NOYZ

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NOYZ
TypeTelevision network
Branding"NOYZ"
Country
AvailabilityUnited States
OwnerBlue Frog Media
Launch date
January 2006; 18 years ago (January 2006)
DissolvedJanuary 10, 2008; 16 years ago (January 10, 2008)
AffiliatesSeveral over-the-air television stations

NOYZ was an American television network owned and operated by Seattle-based Blue Frog Media. Blue Frog also established BULLA, a Hispanic music channel similar to NOYZ. BULLA was discontinued in December 2007 due to budget and staffing cuts.

History[edit]

Founding by Blue Frog Media[edit]

NOYZ was an American television network owned and operated by Seattle-based Blue Frog Media.

Blue Frog Media was a Seattle mobile media and entertainment company co-founded by Ron Erickson.[1] Originally called Blue Frog Mobile, it sold ringtones, wallpaper images, and games to cell-phone users.[2] Erickson was chairman and CEO[3] of the company until 2007.[4]

In addition to NOYZ, Blue Frog also established BULLA, a Hispanic music channel similar to NOYZ. BULLA was discontinued in December 2007 due to budget and staffing cuts.[5]

Start of NOYZ[edit]

In 2006 Blue Frog became best known for founding NOYZ, a television network that aired mostly pop and hip hop music videos, where members could send text messages to be placed on the air.[4] The videos featured a continuing interactive chat on the bottom third of the screen, where members could talk using text messages transmitted to the network to be placed on air. Each message cost 99¢, and had to be broadcast-safe to be featured on-air.

Discontinuation[edit]

The network aired beginning in 2007 overnights on the men's digital cable network MAVTV, but as of January 10, 2008 that network discontinued airing it, suggesting NOYZ went off-the-air. Shortly after, the network's website was taken offline and would lead to a domain parking page. Blue Frog Media had burned through $16 million of venture capital funding over three years and was unable to raise any more money, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on February 1, 2008, with $1 million in liabilities from service providers, television stations and other creditors.[6] Blue Frog had planned further expansion before their bankruptcy in 2008, using the funds from the shutdown of BULLA to establish Noyz Country (a country-oriented channel), and UR Noyz, which would focus on Christian music.[7]

See also[edit]

  • The Box - former over-the-air music network similar to NOYZ, later evolved into MTV2
  • MTV2 - available in some areas over-the-air
  • Mas Musica - former over-the-air music network, evolved into MTV Tr3s
  • MTV Tr3s - available in some areas over the air

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ronald Erickson: Profile". Forbes. 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  2. ^ Woodward, Curt (August 23, 2012). "Meet Double Down's Lone Investor: Ron Erickson Talks Online Gambling". Xconomy. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  3. ^ "Board of Trustees: Ron Erickson". Central Washington University. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  4. ^ a b Cook, John (December 14, 2007). "Seattle's Blue Frog Media cuts staff". Seattle PI. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  5. ^ Seattle PI: Blue Frog
  6. ^ Cook, John (4 February 2008). "Blue Frog files for bankruptcy". seattlepi.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  7. ^ Cook, John (December 14, 2007). "Seattle's Blue Frog Media cuts staff". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.