MTV Classic (British and Irish TV channel)

Last updated

MTV Classic
MTV Classic 2021.svg
Final logo, used from 2021 to 2022
Country United Kingdom
Broadcast area United Kingdom, Ireland
NetworkMTV UK
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 16:9 576i SDTV
Ownership
Owner Paramount Networks UK & Australia
Sister channels MTV
MTV Base
MTV Hits
MTV Music
MTV Live
History
Launched1 July 1999
Replaced VH1 (Virgin Media UK)
Closed31 March 2022;12 months ago (2022-03-31)
Replaced by MTV 80s
Former namesVH1 Classic (1999–2010)

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. [1]

Contents

It focused on music videos and music specials from the 1960s onwards, sometimes featuring music videos and concert footage from as early as at least the 1940s or 1950s, such as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" from 1942. It also aired videos from the 2000s and early 2010s. Every November and December from 2013 until 2021, MTV Classic played Christmas-themed music branded as MTV Xmas.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles, the first video to air on the original MTV in 1981, was also the first music video to be played when the channel was rebranded as MTV Classic on 1 March 2010.

History

Since the rebrand, Viacom had rebranded other international channels as MTV Classic. On 1 May 2010, VH1 Australia was rebranded as MTV Classic and on 10 January 2011, MTV Networks Europe launched an Italian version of the same channel, replacing MTV Gold.

MTV Classic began broadcasting in widescreen on 6 March 2012.

On 31 March 2022, the channel closed down, and was replaced by MTV 80s. [2] [3] The final video played on the channel was "Goodbye" by Spice Girls.

Pluto TV revival

In late 2022 a feed of archive music videos, listed on the guide under the MTV Classic name, was made available on the British iteration of Paramount Global's streaming television platform Pluto TV, following shortly after the addition of other MTV-branded music video streams (film soundtrack stream MTV Movie Hits and seasonal pop-up MTV Xmas) to the lineup. The Pluto streams are available at no cost to users and are separate to the MTV broadcast TV channels.

Programming

Temporary rebrands

Viacom occasionally rebranded MTV Classic to a different name to air different kinds of music.

Availability

The channel was available in the United Kingdom on Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV and TalkTalk Plus TV and in Ireland on Sky Ireland and Virgin Media Ireland.

MTV Classic was previously available on Virgin Media UK but it was removed from the platform on 28 August 2010, along with MTV +1 and MTV Shows, to make room for Comedy Central HD [5] and returned on 7 January 2020, replacing VH1 which had closed that day. [6]

Logos

MTV Classic's on-air identity was similar to MTV's international identity. MTV Classic utilised the new MTV logo along with specially commissioned idents by ICC. [7] These idents were also used on other MTV Classic channels around the world including MTV Classic Australia, which launched in May 2010. On September 14, 2021, MTV Classic revealed a new on-air look and new logo as part of MTV's 2021 global rebrand.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VH1</span> American cable television network

VH1 is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. 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.

Paramount Media Networks is an American mass media division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and online brands. Its related international division is Paramount International Networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Base</span> British pay television channel

MTV Base was a British pay television music channel from Paramount Networks UK & Australia that focused primarily on hip hop, R&B, grime, garage, reggae, funk, soul and dance music. It was launched as part of MTV's digital boutique of music channels on July 1, 1999 in both the United Kingdom and in Ireland.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Rocks (British and Irish TV channel)</span> 24-hour alternative music MTV network channel

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace Hits</span> British and Irish music TV channel

Trace Hits is a British free-to-air music channel owned by Trace Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VH1 (British and Irish TV channel)</span> UK & Ireland version of the music television channel

VH1 was a British and Irish pay television channel that was owned by ViacomCBS. The channel was based on the original VH1 American channel of the same name. On 24 November until 26 December 2017, VH1 was renamed temporarily as VH1 Christmas. The channel ceased broadcasting on Tuesday 7 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Germany</span> German television channel

Music Television Germany is a German language free-to-air television channel operated by Paramount Global. The channel launched on 7 March 1997 as MTV Central, as part of a regionalisation strategy by Paramount Global, then MTV Networks Europe.

MTV Live is an 24-hour American pay television music video channel owned by Paramount Global. The channel, which broadcasts exclusively in 1080i high definition, broadcasts music videos and music-related programming from Paramount owned networks MTV, MTV Classic, VH1 and CMT, along with other concert and live music programming from outside producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Box Upfront</span> British free-to-air television channel

Box Upfront was a British music video television channel owned by The Box Plus Network. It launched on 3 July 2012 as Heat and was originally based on the magazine of the same name. The channel replaced Q.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bliss (TV channel)</span> British music television channel

Bliss was a British music television channel owned and operated by the CSC Media Group, formerly known as Chart Show Channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Live (International TV channel)</span> International 24-hour music channel

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. The channel is currently available in International and United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Classic (Australian TV channel)</span> Australian television network

MTV Classic is an Australian subscription television music channel. The channel focused on music from the 1980s to 2000s. The channel first launched in Australia on 14 March 2004 and in New Zealand on 1 June 2011. On 1 July 2011 MTV International channels launched new logos

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV (British and Irish TV channel)</span> MTV channel in the UK and Ireland

MTV is a British pay television channel focusing on reality TV and music programming operated by Paramount Networks UK & Australia.

Now Rock is a British free-to-air music television channel, focusing exclusively on playing rock music for 10 months of the year, with a sister channel called Now 90s featuring rock hits from the 1990s available in other territories. For the other two months, Now Christmas takes over with their Christmas service not only playing hits from the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Classic (American TV channel)</span> American pay music television channel

MTV Classic is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. It was originally launched in 1998 as VH1 Smooth, an adult contemporary and smooth jazz channel. It was relaunched as VH1 Classic Rock in 1999, with an emphasis on classic rock. On August 1, 2016, in honor of MTV's 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as MTV Classic, and now exclusively shows music videos from all genres from the late 1970s to the mid 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace Latina</span> Television channel

Trace Latina is a music channel specialising mostly in urban Latin music. It broadcasts in the United Kingdom via the Channelbox streaming platform on Freeview UK channel 271 and in France

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV Rocks (European TV channel)</span> European television channel

MTV Rocks Europe was a European pay television music channel from Viacom International Media Networks Europe that was launched on 27 May 2014, replacing the British version of MTV Rocks in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now 80s</span> Television channel

NOW 80s is a British free-to-air music television channel, focusing exclusively on playing music from the 1980s. The channel launched in its current form on 27 December 2016, initially as a temporary pop-up rebrand of Now Music, previously a contemporary pop channel. The 80s format was subsequently made permanent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV 90s (British and Irish TV channel)</span> British television channel

MTV 90s is a British pay television music channel owned by Paramount Networks UK & Australia that launched on 31 March 2022 replacing MTV Base. It was first launched as a temporary reband of MTV Classic from 27 May to 24 June 2016. It is temporarily replaced by MTV Xmas in the run up to and throughout Christmas each year.

References

  1. "MTV Announce Channel Changes". Entertainment Focus. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
  2. "MTV Classic (ANG) - tv program on 30.03.2022 - TV program - Telemagazyn.pl".
  3. "MTV Classic (ANG) - tv program on 31.03.2022 - TV program - Telemagazyn.pl".
  4. Welsh, Daniel (18 November 2013). "MTV to launch dedicated Christmas channel". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  5. "Three MTV channels leave Virgin Media". The Airwaves. 26 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013.
  6. "Virgin Media Changelog page 83". Cable Forum. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. "ICC". Vimeo. Retrieved 27 June 2013.