MTV

{{MTV}}

{{MTV}}

MTV was launched on August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m.,{{Cite web |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |title=Mariah, Jane's Addiction, TLC Slated For MTV Birthday Bash |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1445105/mariah-janes-addiction-tlc-slated-for-mtv-birthday-bash/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103204959/http://www.mtv.com/news/1445105/mariah-janes-addiction-tlc-slated-for-mtv-birthday-bash/ |archive-date=November 3, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |publisher=[[MTV.com]]}}{{Cite web |last=Devora |first=Abby |title=Need To Know: Sam Smith Drops 'I'm Not The Only One' Video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1885778/need-to-know-sam-smith-im-not-the-only-one-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816023544/http://www.mtv.com/news/1885778/need-to-know-sam-smith-im-not-the-only-one-video/ |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |publisher=[[MTV.com]]}} under the ownership of [[Warner Communications|Warner]]-[[American Express|Amex]] Satellite Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Behr |first=Adam |date=2021-08-14 |title=40 Years of MTV: the channel that shaped popular culture as we know it |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/08/14/40-years-of-mtv-the-channel-that-shaped-popular-culture-as-we-know-it_partner/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501230928/https://www.salon.com/2021/08/14/40-years-of-mtv-the-channel-that-shaped-popular-culture-as-we-know-it_partner/ |url-status=live }} The first video played on MTV was “[[Video Killed the Radio Star]]” by [[The Buggles]].{{Cite web |last=pssadm |date=2020-08-26 |title=Video: MTV First Four Hours Remastered |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2020/08/26/video-mtv-first-four-hours-remastered/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=That Eric Alper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=James |date=2013-01-16 |title=MTV Revolution |url=https://convocations.purdue.edu/mtv-revolution/#:~:text=Today,%20we%20will%20share%20the,us%20know%20what%20you%20think! |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Purdue Convocations |language=en-US}} On June 25, 1984, Warner Communications spun-off [[Nickelodeon]] and MTV into a new public corporation called MTV Networks (''now'' [[Paramount Media Networks]]).{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=June 25, 1984|title=Warner takes MTV, Nickelodeon public|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-06-25-OCR-Page-0058.pdf#search=%22mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 12, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/19/business/business-people-a-chief-is-named-by-mtv-networks.html |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks |author= |date=July 19, 1985 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 1, 2014}} Warner would later acquire American Express' 50% stake the following year.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=August 12, 1985|title=Warner to buy out American Express; MTV to go private (page 29)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-08-12.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 13, 2022}} From August 27, 1985, to May 20, 1986, Warner would sell 31%,{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=August 27, 1985|title=Viacom to Buy Warner Stake In Cable Units|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/08/27/viacom-to-buy-warner-stake-in-cable-units/f9a17068-093d-4d39-be78-e7b0a0724ac4/|access-date=}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 2, 1985|title=Viacom gets its MTV (page 50)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-09-02.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 13, 2022}} and later, 69% of MTV Networks to [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]].{{Cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=1986-09-17|title=VIACOM CHIEF LEADS GROUP'S BUYOUT BID (Published 1986)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/17/business/viacom-chief-leads-group-s-buyout-bid.html|access-date=2021-01-23|issn=0362-4331|quote=In November 1985, Viacom acquired MTV Networks for $326 million in cash and warrants. One-third of MTV was publicly owned; the rest was owned by Warner Communications and the American Express Company. At the same time, Viacom bought 50 percent of Showtime, the pay television service, that it did not already own for $184 million.}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=May 20, 1986|title=Viacom has bought MTV and Showtime/TMC|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-05-26-OCR-Page-0045.pdf#search=%22viacom%20mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 24, 2022}} After more than 40 years, MTV would be returned under the same ownership with Warner when Viacom's ultimate successors, [[Paramount Skydance]], reached the [[Proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance|historic deal agreement]] with Warner's ultimate successors, [[Warner Bros. Discovery]].{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2026-02-27 |title=Massive Merger Confirmed: Paramount And WBD Reveal Details Of $110 Billion Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/massive-merger-confirmed-paramount-and-wbd-reveal-details-1236738785/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=2026-02-27 |language=en-US}}

MTV was launched on August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m.,{{Cite web |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |title=Mariah, Jane's Addiction, TLC Slated For MTV Birthday Bash |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1445105/mariah-janes-addiction-tlc-slated-for-mtv-birthday-bash/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103204959/http://www.mtv.com/news/1445105/mariah-janes-addiction-tlc-slated-for-mtv-birthday-bash/ |archive-date=November 3, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |publisher=[[MTV.com]]}}{{Cite web |last=Devora |first=Abby |title=Need To Know: Sam Smith Drops 'I'm Not The Only One' Video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1885778/need-to-know-sam-smith-im-not-the-only-one-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816023544/http://www.mtv.com/news/1885778/need-to-know-sam-smith-im-not-the-only-one-video/ |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |publisher=[[MTV.com]]}} under the ownership of [[Warner Communications|Warner]]-[[American Express|Amex]] Satellite Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Behr |first=Adam |date=2021-08-14 |title=40 Years of MTV: the channel that shaped popular culture as we know it |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/08/14/40-years-of-mtv-the-channel-that-shaped-popular-culture-as-we-know-it_partner/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501230928/https://www.salon.com/2021/08/14/40-years-of-mtv-the-channel-that-shaped-popular-culture-as-we-know-it_partner/ |url-status=live }} The first video played on MTV was “[[Video Killed the Radio Star]]” by [[The Buggles]].{{Cite web |last=pssadm |date=2020-08-26 |title=Video: MTV First Four Hours Remastered |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2020/08/26/video-mtv-first-four-hours-remastered/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=That Eric Alper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=James |date=2013-01-16 |title=MTV Revolution |url=https://convocations.purdue.edu/mtv-revolution/#:~:text=Today,%20we%20will%20share%20the,us%20know%20what%20you%20think! |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Purdue Convocations |language=en-US}} On June 25, 1984, Warner Communications spun-off [[Nickelodeon]] and MTV into a new public corporation called MTV Networks (''now'' [[Paramount Media Networks]]).{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=June 25, 1984|title=Warner takes MTV, Nickelodeon public|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-06-25-OCR-Page-0058.pdf#search=%22mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 12, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/19/business/business-people-a-chief-is-named-by-mtv-networks.html |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks |author= |date=July 19, 1985 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 1, 2014}} Warner would later acquire American Express' 50% stake the following year.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=August 12, 1985|title=Warner to buy out American Express; MTV to go private (page 29)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-08-12.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 13, 2022}} From August 27, 1985, to May 20, 1986, Warner would sell 31%,{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=August 27, 1985|title=Viacom to Buy Warner Stake In Cable Units|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/08/27/viacom-to-buy-warner-stake-in-cable-units/f9a17068-093d-4d39-be78-e7b0a0724ac4/|access-date=}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 2, 1985|title=Viacom gets its MTV (page 50)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-09-02.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 13, 2022}} and later, 69% of MTV Networks to [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]].{{Cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=1986-09-17|title=VIACOM CHIEF LEADS GROUP'S BUYOUT BID (Published 1986)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/17/business/viacom-chief-leads-group-s-buyout-bid.html|access-date=2021-01-23|issn=0362-4331|quote=In November 1985, Viacom acquired MTV Networks for $326 million in cash and warrants. One-third of MTV was publicly owned; the rest was owned by Warner Communications and the American Express Company. At the same time, Viacom bought 50 percent of Showtime, the pay television service, that it did not already own for $184 million.}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=May 20, 1986|title=Viacom has bought MTV and Showtime/TMC|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-05-26-OCR-Page-0045.pdf#search=%22viacom%20mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 24, 2022}} After more than 40 years, MTV would be returned under the same ownership with Warner when Viacom's ultimate successors, [[Paramount Skydance]], reached the [[Proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance|agreement]] with Warner's ultimate successors, [[Warner Bros. Discovery]].{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2026-02-27 |title=Massive Merger Confirmed: Paramount And WBD Reveal Details Of $110 Billion Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/massive-merger-confirmed-paramount-and-wbd-reveal-details-1236738785/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=2026-02-27 |language=en-US}}

== Programming ==

== Programming ==