Originally, the main sources of programming were
CHUM,
Euronews, Channel M's in-house productions and the University of Salford with Interference, Gloves Off and Hitting Home, a documentary series. These were made in house by students and staff at the university. Canada-sourced output from CHUM was gradually replaced by in-house Channel M Productions as the station developed more local programming, particularly following the station's launch on digital satellite services in April 2006. Major cutbacks saw most of the station's non-news output axed in May 2009. Remaining GMG production ceased on 19 March 2010, leaving the station with a schedule of archive and acquired output.
Salford University input / output The history of Channel M can be traced back to the 1996 Broadcasting Act which made provision for six local Restricted Service Licences (RSL) to be issued around the UK. The Manchester RSL was awarded to the
University of Salford in 1997 and the channel began life as Manchester Student Television (MSTV), operated by a consortium that included the university and
Guardian Media Group, amongst others. All partners started producing content in the autumn of 1998, and this was stockpiled in advance of launch on 14 February 2000. Programming produced by the University of Salford continued to be broadcast on the station until shortly before its closure. Featured programming included
Reel North (short films),
Zeitgeist (arts magazine),
Grey Matters (studio debate),
Hitting Home (documentary) and
Wildtrack (wildlife documentary), four of which won a total of nine
Royal Television Society awards.
Interference, an arts show, helped launch careers of presenters and comedians, including
OJ Borg and
Jason Manford. Gloves Off was a student debate programme that ran for four years.
Guardian Media Group output From 2004 until July 2009, the station's flagship programme was the 5pm weeknight edition of
Channel M News (produced in conjunction with the
Manchester Evening News), which later expanded to include breakfast, lunchtime and late evening bulletins as well as a weekly review programme and occasional live specials. Until May 2009, GMG also produced entertainment programmes including the weekly entertainment round-up
City Life, the comedy talk-show ''
Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show
, and regular music coverage. Programming such as the weekly music show City Life Social
and video/computer game review series Re:Loaded'' helped Channel M to gain viewers nationally.
City Life Social,
The Great Northern Music Show and
In Session were Channel M's main music programmes, often presented by Gerry McLaughlin with Clint Boon as a stand-in host. These programmes usually featured live, acoustic or "unplugged" studio and outside broadcast performances from
alternative and
indie bands. Former
BBC Radio Manchester host,
Granada presenter and Factory Records boss
Tony Wilson was due to present a Friday evening music and entertainment show called
The New Friday, produced by former Granada producer and
BBC Radio Manchester host Eamonn O'Neill. However, this programme was postponed after Wilson became terminally ill with cancer. Wilson died in August 2007 and the plans for
The New Friday were soon abandoned.
City Life Social (previously
City Centre Social) then became the station's flagship music show, as Channel M shifted towards a greater focus on live performances within programmes. This policy continued until the music department ceased production in May 2009, shortly after the station announced severe cutbacks in staff and programming. ==Studios==