The History Of MTV




MTV was first first aired on August 1, 1981 and has continued to grow since then. The show has grown strong but they have undergone many changes and obsticals over the years of it's existance. Below is a detailed list of MTV's road to success:

• September 1979--- Warner American Express Satelite Entertainment Company (WASEC) founded

• January 1981--Warner Communications and ?american Express approve creation of music video channel

• August 1, 1981--MTV debuts at 12:01 a.m., playing Buggles's "Video Killed the Radio Star"

• October 1981--MTV runs first contest--"One Night Stand With Journey"

• December 31, 1981--MTV hosts first New Year's Eve Rock and Roll Ball

• Summer 1982--"I want my MTV!" campaign begins

• September 1982--MTV debuts in Manhattan and Los Angeles

• Fall 1982--Kraft becomes first major advertiser to make a commercial specifically for MTV

• March 1983--Micheal Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" premiere on MTV

• Summer 1983--Night Tracks debuts on TBS; Friday Night Videos debuts on NBC

• October 1983--MTV featured on cover of People magazine

• December 1983--Michael Jackson's "Thriller" premieres on MTV

• December 31, 1983--MTV complete's first profitable quarter

• February 1984--WASEC changes name to MTV Networks

• August 1984--MTV Networks stock goes public

• September 1984--Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler host first MTV Video Music Awards

• Fall 1984--With visual style inspired by MTV, Miami Vice debuts on NBC

• October 1984--Ted Turner lauches Cable Music Channel

• November 1984--National Coalition on Television Violence releases report critical of MTV

• December 1984--Ted Turner pulls plug on Cable Music Channel

• January 1985--VH-1 launched

• June 1985--American Express announces its intention to sell its share of MTV Networks

• August 1985--Leveraged buyout fails; Viacom purchases MTV Networks

• February 1986--MTV begins airing episodes of The Monkees

• March 1986--MTV airs first broadcast from Florida during Spring Break

• June 1986--J.J. Jackson and Nina Blackwood are first of original veejays to leave MTV

• August 1986--Chief Executive Officer Bob Pittman announces his departure from MTV Networks

• February 1987--Sumner Redstone purchases controlling interest in Viacom

• August 1987--MTV Europe launched; first video is Dire Strait's "Money for Nothing"

• August 1987--Club MTV debuts on MTV

• Fall 1987--The Week in Rock and Remote Control debut on MTV

• July 1988--MTV declines to play Neil Young's "This Note's for You" video

• August 1988--Yo! MTV Raps debuts

• November 1989--MTV goes on the air in East Berlin; forty-eight hours later, Berlin Wall falls

• January 1990--MTV Unplugged premieres, hosted by Julie Shear; Syd Straw and Squeeze and guests

• November 1990--MTV declines to play Madonna's "Justify My Love"

• September 1991--MTV Asia launched

• Spring 1992--Real World debuts on MTV

• February 1992--MTV begins coverage of 1992 Presidential campaign

• June 1992--Bill Clinton appears in MTV Choose or Lose forum

• Fall 1992--Beavis and Butthead debuts on MTV

• January 20,1993--MTV Inaugural Ball, Washington D.C.

• Summer 1993--MTV Productions created

• Fall 1993--MTV Latino launched

• Summer 1994--MTV teams with America Online to create on-line presence

• Fall 1994--MTV Interactive created to develop video games. CD-ROM products, and interactive services

• Spring 1995--MTV Mandarin launched

• Summer 1995--MTV launches a page on the Internet

• August 1996--Creation of MTV2

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