MTV Europe

MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on 1 August 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent. Today, the channel only serves a selection of European countries as MTV Networks Europe began to regionalise its network in 1997.

History

(1987–2010)

• With similar tongue-in-cheek humor as the 1981 launch of MTV in the U.S., the first video shown on MTV Europe was "Money for Nothing," by Dire Straits, which starts and finishes with repetition of the line "I want my MTV", voiced by Sting.

• MTV Europe is wholly owned and operated by MTV Networks Europe. It launched in 1987 under a co-operative agreement by Viacom and BT, which lasted until 1991 when Viacom took over full ownership.^[1]

• MTV Europe launched from Amsterdam, Netherlands with a live performance from Elton John. In 1989, it moved to London, from where it was produced and broadcast.

• Since its premiere, MTV revolutionized the music industry. Slogans such as "I want my MTV" became embedded in public thought, the concept of the VJ was popularized, the idea of a dedicated video-based outlet for music was introduced, and both artists and fans found a central location for music events, news, and promotion. MTV has also been referenced countless times in popular culture by musicians, other TV channels and shows, films and books.

• It became the pioneer broadcaster in Europe in 1995 with the upgrade of its broadcasts to digitally compressed transmissions. In 1997, MTV Networks Europe began to regionalize its MTV feed in a number of areas in Europe. In March 1997, MTV Germany (formerly MTV Central Europe) launched. On 1 July 1997 MTV UK & Ireland launched, followed by MTV Italia in September. MTV Nordic for Scandinavia launched in June 1998. Since 2000, MTV Networks Europe launched other regional channels across the continent.

• On 1 April 2002, the channel re-branded as 'MTV European'. In August 2007, it moved its editorial base from London to Warsaw, Poland, though still beaming its signal from MTV Networks Europe's London headquarters.

• In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, it also became famous for its VJs coming from all over Europe, who used to introduce videos and programs round the clock. The most notable VJs in MTV Europe's history include List of MTV Europe VJs.

(2010-onwards)

• MTV Europe is aimed at viewers aged around 16-35, it reaches more than 100 million households in 43 territories.

• As of 1 August 2010, MTV Europe has controversially removed its core music programming and replaced it with reality based programming from MTV US.^[2][3]

• Prior to 1 August 2010, MTV Europe provided a unique mix of popular culture programming along with music videos. The channels broadcast centre is located in Prague, Czech Republic^[4] (previously London) and progamming produced at MTV Networks headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.

• In July 2011, MTV Europe rebranded its channel utilizing a new logo and idents.

Distribution

• MTV European is distributed across Europe via satellite, cable, and terrestrial television.
• As of 2011, MTV European still serves a smaller number of countries which do not have a local MTV feed, including: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Turkey, Moldova and Malta. However, it is still present in Hungary, alongside MTV Hungary.

• MTV Europe is also broadcast in a number of African countries including South Africa, alongside local MTV Base Africa, MTV Portugal and MTV France.

Shows (2010 onwards)

• MTV Celebrity Bites
• MTV Europe Music Awards
• MTV Video Music Awards
• MTV Movie Awards
• MTV World Stage
• MTV Peak Season
• The Hills
• The City
• 16 & Pregnant
• Blue Mountain State

Former shows

• MTV Amour
• MTV News
• Euro Top 20
• Yo!
• MTV Live
• World Chart Express
• The Lick
• Lick Shots
• Hitlist UK
• MTV Mono
• Chill Out Zone
• Party Zone
• Alternative Nation
• Superock
• Headbanger's Ball
• European Dancefloor Chart
• So '90's
• MTV's Greatest Hits
• Total Request Live
• Top 10 at 10
• MTV's Most Wanted
• MTV Alarm
• Number One Hits
• Summer Of MTV
• The Rock Chart
• Music Mix

Video fun

• MTV Mathematics

Logos

See also

• List of MTV Europe VJs
• MTVNHD - MTV Networks high definition television channel in Europe and South America.

References

External links

• Official MTV Europe Website
• MTV Networks Europe Website
• Viacom Brand Solutions International
• MTV Europe Screenshots
• MTV Europe's full history (in Polish)
• MTV Chill Out Zone Playlists
• MTV International