Country | Australia |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Australia, New Zealand |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV 16:9) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Paramount Networks UK & Australia |
Sister channels | MTV Club MTV MTV Hits CMT |
History | |
Launched | 14 March 2004 (Australia) 1 June 2011 (New Zealand) |
Replaced | MAX (Foxtel only) |
Closed | 6 July 2020 1 August 2023 (Australia) | (New Zealand)
Replaced by | MTV 80s |
Former names | VH1 (2004-2010) [1] |
Links | |
Website | mtv.com.au/mtv-classic |
MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Australia) [2] was an Australian and New Zealand subscription television music channel. The channel focused on music from the 1980s to 2000s. [3] The channel first launched in Australia on 14 March 2004 (as VH1) and in New Zealand on 1 June 2011. On 1 July 2011 MTV International channels launched new logos. [4]
On 1 April 2016 the channel closed, but was ultimately revived on 27 February 2017 on the Fetch TV platform. It was later revived on Sky in December that year, and was relaunched on 1 July 2020 on Foxtel, replacing MAX.
The channel was replaced by MTV 80s in New Zealand on 6 July 2020, followed by Australia on 1 August 2023. [5]
The channel first aired on Sunday 14 March 2004 when Foxtel launched its digital product and then on Austar and Optus shortly after. [6] In April 2006, Australian pay TV newcomer, SelecTV also began to carry VH1. In 2008 it began carriage on TransACT and Neighbourhood Cable. The channel although Australian run, mainly showed programming for the US and the UK with programs such as The Fabulous Life of... and the celebrity based documentary Driven . The VH1 Website officially launched on 3 August 2006. The website somewhat followed the format of the MTV Australia website. It contained a news section, competitions, features, info on new acts and more. It also has details on shows like Can't Get a Date. The website also provided an e-newsletter. The website was closed down in April 2007 for maintenance and was offline until November. In mid August 2009 the site was expanded from a single page to a mini-site on the MTV website.
On 25 November 2006 VH1 presented Australia's Favourite Lyric which presented a long list of songs on the VH1 website for viewers and industry members to vote. When the votes closed the list was made into a top 100 countdown and INXS took out the top spot with their song Never Tear Us Apart. [7] [8]
Unlike sister channel MTV, the channel still aired a majority of music programming, with VH1 produced entertainment programming shown on MTV or other channels. [9]
On 10 February 2010, the channel was announced via the MTV Australia website. [10] MTV Networks in Australia confirmed that VH1 receives fewer viewers each week than its sister channel MTV Australia. Part of the channel's launch included a music event which took the place of the annual MTV Australia Awards which was held in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre. [1] [10] [11] The event consisted of a line-up of local and international artists including former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. [12] "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles was the first music video to be played on the channel.
The channel was made available on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV from launch in June 2010. [13]
On 23 November 2010, MTV Classic began broadcasting in widescreen.
The channel launched in New Zealand on 1 June 2011 on Sky Television. [14]
On 29 October 2013, MTV announced they had been working with Foxtel since early 2013 to offer more diversity on the Foxtel platform, as MTV Classic and MTV Hits fought for the same audience as Foxtel Networks channels MAX and [V] Hits respectively. [15] The channel to replace MTV Classic is MTV Dance , a channel dedicated to dance, hip hop, and RnB music from around the world - MTV's first channel to be dedicated to three different genres of music. [15] Although MTV Classic and MTV Hits will no longer be available on Foxtel, they will continue to be offered by Australian IPTV service FetchTV and New Zealand pay TV provider Sky Television. [15] [16] The changes took place on 3 December 2013. [17]
On 1 December 2015, Sky Television replaced MTV Classic (and sister channel MTV Hits) with a localized version of MTV Music. [18]
On 28 February 2016, Fetch TV (the last carrier of MTV Classic) announced via their Facebook page that the channel would close on 1 April 2016. [19]
On 27 February 2017, MTV Classic was revived on the Fetch TV platform as a result of "popular demand". Available on channel 140, and exclusively on Fetch TV, the revived channel features rock, R&B and pop music from 1980 to 2000. [20] Sky TV New Zealand would also re-add the channel on 8 December 2017. [21] This was later replaced again on Sky by MTV 80s on 6 July 2020.
On 1 July 2020, MTV Classic returned to Foxtel on channel 804, replacing MAX, after a 7-year absence. [22] This was replaced by MTV 80s across Foxtel and FetchTV in Australia on 1 August 2023, as had been done in New Zealand 3 years prior. [23]
When the Channel first launched (as VH1) it employed 2 on-air talent but they later began running on mainly voice overs and guest presenters, the 2 hosts were: Zoe Sheridan: the glamorous and sexy side of the project who assisted in the production to Inside Track and David Campbell: the son of Australian rock sensation Jimmy Barnes. David also had some chart success with his hit single "Hope" which sold well in Australia, the US and the UK, he also was one of the faces of Inside Track until its cancellation.
MTV Classic airs a variety of artist related programmes as well as established MTV series. The channel aims at the age demographic of 24- to 40-year-olds. [24]
In addition to the above, the channel often screens music documentary and concert specials.
MTV Classic have the rights to The ARIA Hall of Fame Awards show (aired since 20 August 2006). The Hall of Fame has been an important part of the ARIA Awards since 1988. Traditionally taking place during the ARIA Awards ceremony, a diverse range of artists have been inducted into the Hall of Fame including AC/DC, Dame Joan Sutherland, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny O'Keefe, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, INXS, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Little and many more. [25]
In March 2005 VH1 co-broadcast the MTV Australia Video Music Awards. As well as showing facts about the nominated artists, during this time, they also had a special award called the VH1 Music First Award which was awarded to Cher.
Inside Track featured new music and videos internationally and locally. So far the previous hosts have chatted with Jet, Darren Hayes, PJ Harvey, Lionel Richie, Olivia Newton-John and Chris Isaak.
All of these programmes air without interruption. After the official revival in 2020, the schedule was refreshed to include programming blocks at set times throughout a large part of the day (aside from the countdowns). Programming line-up are almost entirely same as VH1 Classic Europe.
INXS were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. For 20 years, INXS was fronted by Hutchence, whose magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.
VH1 is an American basic cable television network based in New York City. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and the original owner of MTV, and launched on January 1, 1985, in the former space of Turner Broadcasting System's short-lived Cable Music Channel.
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.
NickMusic is an American pay television network and spin-off of Nickelodeon that mainly carries music video and music-related programming from younger pop artists that appeal to Nickelodeon's target audience, with some videos edited for content to meet a general TV-PG rating applied across the network's broadcast day, or replaced with a lyric video instead.
MTV is a 24-hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by parent company Paramount Networks UK & Australia headquartered in London with a local office at Network 10's headquarters in Sydney.
MTV Rocks was a British pay television music channel that was operated by ViacomCBS Networks UK & Australia. Its programming consisted of 24-hour non-stop rock/alternative music.
Max was an Australian music channel formerly known as musicMAX prior to 14 March 2004, available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television. The distinctive MAX logo was designed by Australian designer director, Domenico Bartolo of 21–19.
Nick Jr. is a 24-hour children's channel in Australia and New Zealand designed for pre-schoolers. Nick Jr. was a morning programming block on Nickelodeon until 2004, when Foxtel launched it as a full 24-hour kids channel. The channel is owned by Paramount Networks UK & Australia, and was also available on Optus Television.
[V] was an Australian music television channel that was owned and operated by Foxtel. It was available on Foxtel Digital and Optus's digital services.
MTV Hits is an Australian and New Zealand subscription music channel focused on hit music. The channel first launched in Australia in April 2007, and later launched in New Zealand on 1 December 2011.
MTV Live is the international version of the American TV channel MTV Live as 24-hour high-definition live music pay television network owned by Paramount International Networks subsidiary Paramount Networks EMEAA.
13th Street was an Australian television channel which specialised in airing action and suspense programmes. The channel was owned by NBC Universal and was launched on 15 November 2009 as part of Foxtel's Next Generation launch. It launched on Fetch TV in 2017 as part of Fetch TV's channel pack revamp.
MTV Classic was a British pay television music channel from Paramount Networks UK & Australia. The channel was launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 1 July 1999 as VH1 Classic.
MTV is a British pay television channel focusing on reality TV and music programming operated by Paramount Networks UK & Australia.
Fetch TV is an Australian IPTV provider that delivers a subscription television service over a user's regular internet service. Fetch TV launched in 2010 backed by its Malaysian parent Astro Malaysia Holdings. On 2 August 2022, Telstra acquired a 51% stake in the company.
MTV Music is a British pay television channel operated by Paramount Networks UK & Australia. The brand was first launched in the UK and Ireland before launching in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. Unlike other MTV Music channels, this channel offers subtitles on selected programmes.
MTV Music is a 24-hour Australian and New Zealand subscription music channel which first launched on 3 December 2013.
Club MTV is an Australian pay television channel that broadcasts dance and urban music. It was launched on 3 December 2013.
Foxtel Now is an Australian internet television service which offers subscriptions to over 50 live channels and hundreds of video on-demand titles. The service is owned by Foxtel, and officially launched on 11 August 2013 as Foxtel Play.
NickMusic is an Australian TV channel operated by Paramount Networks UK & Australia. It launched on 1 July 2020 replacing Channel [V] on channel 802, taking the slot of [V]'s 2-hour timeshift. It is an Australian version of the U.S pay television channel of the same name, a kid-safe, family-friendly music video channel for 4-15 year olds mainly featuring modern-day pop and teen pop hits on an automated schedule. It is the first NickMusic channel in Oceania and the second to launch outside of the United States.