CTVglobemedia's Much MTV Group is rebranding its Category 1 digital channel Razer as MTV2, with Friday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. set as the channel's official launch date.

Targeting viewers 12-24, the rebranded digi will launch with a new hour-long music video show and aims to focus on stunts and pranks, extreme sports, live concerts, comedy, music videos, and animation.

There was a previous MTV2 channel, which itself was rebranded as PunchMuch by then-owner CHUM in 2005. CTVgm acquired the CHUM specialties last year.

Much MTV Group SVP and GM Brad Schwartz calls the new MTV2 a "fantastically gross, over-sexed, over-the-top, loud television that's hyper-targeted to a spirited young audience. We are Canada's youth experts, and we're going to keep launching new, niche, and exciting ways to engage them."

A highlight reel of MTV2 series is live at a teaser website (mtv2.ca). The net plans to announce further details about the programming lineup and subscriptions in the coming weeks.

Both Razer and PunchMuch launched in summer 2005. It wasn't long before Razer began rolling out sponsor-friendly interactive features such as SMS text-to-screen gaming.

From Media in Canada