[TV Insider]

So if they want to shut the Box Plus channels and they haven’t bothered about them for years anyway, why don’t they just close them? Unless it’s because they have contractual obligations to fill regarding them or maybe they might consider selling them or the slots off if they were offered the right price?

The branding deal with Bauer Media started on the 8th January 2019 when they sold their share. At a guess, Channel 4 renewed this at least once and have the rights to use the brands until 8th January 2025.

The channels are run under a blanket licence agreement, which allows them to play virtually unlimited music videos for a very large fixed fee. There is an argument to keep playing music videos and keep selling advertising until this agreement expires.

In addition, there is a redundancy consultation period of 45 days by law - so the channels will continue until this is completed at the very earliest.