Who Owns MTV Network? — Full History about MTV Network
History

Who Owns MTV Network? — Full History about MTV Network

Suppose you’ve been thinking about Who owns MTV network and some historically intricate details about MTV.

MTV (once an acronym for Music Television) is a Viacom-owned cable television channel that first began its operation on midnight of August 1, 1981. Let’s dive right into some historically relevant details:

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Entire History about MTV Network

MTV network is a television network that uses the cable system of receiving picture/sound signals. It began its job of airing musical videos on August 1, 1981, with John Lack’s words: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, rock and roll.’

This was the line used to introduce the new cable channel, after which Video Killed The Radio Star, a music video by Buggles, was aired.

In the ’80s and over, MTV has substantially influenced pop culture, rap music, and entertainment in general.

Some Notable Old Musicals Aired by MTV

Here are some of the old musicals aired by MTV Network in their order of appearance:

  • Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles
  • You better run by Pat Benatar,
  • She Won’t Dance With Me by Rod Stewart
  • You Better You Be by The Who
  • Little Susie’s On The Top by Ph.D
  • We Don’t Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard
  • Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders
  • Time Heals by Todd Rundgren
  • Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon
  • Rockin’ The Paradise by Styx.

As time went on, the cable television channel continued to expand its musical contents, incorporating the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince and Duran Duran.

These three prominent stars had their songs on heavy rotation, making them widespread and popular. It’s important to note that MTV was a 24-hr music video channel featuring Vjs between clips bantering about music.

The fundamental aim of the cable channel was to air music videos daily without breaking.

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The late ’80s

By the late ’80s, MTV started airing non-musical content targeted at teenagers and young adults.

Shows such as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16, and The Hills became widespread and popular for teenagers and young adults, especially in New Jersey, where cable TV was initially available.

In 1984, MTV launched MTV Music Video Awards(MTV VMA), and in 1992, the now-popular cable network launched MTV Movie Awards.

Over the years, MTV has metamorphosed, grown, diversified, and toned down on its initial monotony of contents.

The once just-music-video channel has refurbished and reorganized its video contents to include culturally relevant content.

From reality shows to captivating series to awards and other relevant content: the channel has moved from one developmental mark to the next and the very next.

Pro Tip: In 1948, cable television originated in Arkansas, Oregon, and Pennsylvania to enhance the already-existing terrestrial television/ broadcast television due to the imminent problem of poor reception of over-the-air television signals in mountainous or geographically remote areas.

Who Owns MTV Network?

Here are the past and present ownership of MTV Network from its inception till date.

Warner Amex Entertainment Satellite Entertainment Company


Warner Amex Entertainment Satellite Company was formed in 1974 as a joint venture between Time Warner and American Express to produce television networks.

They were the first company to own MTV.
The Warner Amex Entertainment Satellite Company provided cable networks such as MTV, Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Nickelodeon.

Viacom Media International

Viacom is a giant cable and media company. In 1985, Warner Amex Entertainment Satellite Company was acquired by Viacom, automatically bringing MTV to their custody and ownership.

Viacom effectively brought MTV and the other channels into more American homes than ever before.

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Paramount Global

On February 16, 2022, ViacomCBS announced that it would become Paramount Global, bringing together its new portfolio of premium entertainment properties under a new parent company name.

Conclusion

MTV as a cable channel has evolved over the years: the cable channel, which was once developed for televising music videos only, has grown into a more encompassing media—having its foot deep in drama contents, music video contents, the VMA, series, and the likes.

MTV has grown! Over the years, it has moved from one hand of ownership to the next and then to the next. They are making waves! Constantly diversifying their contents for its customer satisfaction.

We’ve come to the end of this interesting piece about who owns MTV network, we hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.