Owned by Viacom Media Networks Country United States Founded 1999 Owner Viacom Media Networks | Picture format 480i SDTV Language English Headquarters New York City | |
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Launched August 1, 1998; 18 years ago (1998-08-01)
(Original launch as VH1 Smooth)
August 1, 1999; 17 years ago (1999-08-01)
(relaunch as VH1 Classic)
August 1, 2016; 7 months ago (2016-08-01)
(relaunch as MTV Classic) Formerly called VH1 Smooth (1998–1999)
VH1 Classic Rock (1999–2000)
VH1 Classic (2000–2016) TV shows That Metal Show, Metal Mayhem, Metal Evolution, Live from Daryl's House, 120 Minutes Profiles | ||
MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Smooth, VH1 Classic Rock, and VH1 Classic) is an American television network owned by Viacom 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 (later renamed VH1 Classic), with an emphasis on classic rock. On August 1, 2016, in honor of MTV's 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as MTV Classic.
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As VH1 Smooth (1998-1999)
VH1 Smooth launched on August 1, 1998 as a part of the "Suite" digital package, delaying the original launch date of July 31, 1998. The channel focused on smooth jazz, new age, and adult contemporary music. The first music video to play on the channel was a cover of "Makin' Whoopee" by Branford Marsalis.
As VH1 Classic (1999–2016)
Launched on August 1, 1999 as VH1 Classic Rock, the channel primarily featured a mainstream rock/adult hits-formatted mix of music videos and concert footage from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, though it formerly included a wider range of genres and time periods. The channel was quickly renamed VH1 Classic in 2000. The network originally played only videos but had a varied line-up of music-themed programs. This included themed compilation shows of music videos and concert footage, such as music videos focused on Heavy Metal music or on music of the 1980s, music documentaries such as the Classic Albums series, music themed movies, and full length concerts. They also rebroadcast programs first shown on the main VH1 channel, including Pop-Up Video and I Love the '80s.
As MTV Classic (2016–present)
In July 2016, Viacom announced that on August 1, the 35th anniversary of the original MTV's launch, the network would rebrand as MTV Classic; the channel's programming continues to focus on classic music videos and programming (including notable episodes of MTV Unplugged and Storytellers), but skews more towards the 1980s, 1990s and early to mid-2000s. The re-branded network would also air encores of past MTV original series such as the 2011 Beavis and Butt-head revival and Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. The network's re-launch took place at 6:00 a.m. ET with a rebroadcast of MTV's first hour on the air, which was also simulcast on MTV and online via Facebook live streaming, branded as "MTV Hour One" (the channel, as VH1 Classic, had previously aired it to mark the network's 30th anniversary in 2011). Several VH1 Classic programs were retained in the existing schedule, albeit in late night.
On December 25, 2016, a marathon of George Michael music videos were aired that night in dedication to the late singer. Three days leading up to January 1, 2017, MTV Classic aired 24-hour block "Decade-a-thons" consisting of music videos from the 1980s leading up to the 2000s. Those lead into a new revamped schedule, removing archive MTV programming and shifting to an all-video format.
As of the end of 2016, the channel was the least-watched English-language channel on all of American cable, averaging only 30-35,000 viewers on an average night in primetime.