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About

MTV (Music Television) is a cable/satellite TV station that launched on August 1st, 1981, in the United States. Since its launch it has become a staple of American pop culture. It is currently owned by Viacom CBS Inc.^[1]

History

Years before MTV was launched, the concept for a music video channel was tested as a 15-minute music and news show titled "Album Tracks", which aired on NBC stations in the late 1970's (shown below).^[2] The concept was started by Robert W. Pittman,^[3] who would later become president and CEO of MTV networks.

Launch

The channel officially launched on August 1st, 1981, which used footage of the first launch of the Columbia space shuttle, along with footage from the Apollo 11 launch and moon landing (shown below, left). The first music video aired was Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles (shown below, right).

Music Videos

MTV Animation

From 1991-1995, MTV aired a compilation of animated shorts titled "Liquid Television".^[4] The show featured pilot episodes of now famous animated shows such as Beavis and Butthead, and Æon Flux.

A follow-up show, titled "Cartoon Sushi"^[5] would continue Liquid Television's legacy from 1997-1998. It featured the pilot episode of what would become "Celebrity Deathmatch".

MTV Films

MTV2

Search Interest

External Links