MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on 1 August 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent. Today, the channel only serves a selection of European countries as Viacom International Media Networks Europe began to regionalise its network in 1997.
MTV Europe was begun under a co-operative agreement between Viacom and BT, which lasted until 1991 when Viacom took over full ownership. MTV Europe is wholly owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks Europe.
Since its premiere, MTV revolutionized the music industry. Slogans such as "I want my MTV!" became embedded in the concept of the VJ was popularized, the idea of a dedicated video-based outlet for music was introduced, and both artists and fans found a central location for music events, news, and promotion. MTV has also been referenced countless times in popular culture by musicians, other TV channels and shows, films and books.
From its launch in 1987 and until its break-up into different MTV stations across Europe in 1997, MTV Europe became famous for its VJs who came from all over Europe (plus Pip Dann, a New Zealander), who used to introduce videos and programs round the clock in English.
MTV Europe launched on the 1st of August 1987 from Amsterdam, Netherlands with a live performance from Elton John and was transmitted from AirTV in Camden Town, London.
With similar tongue-in-cheek humor as the 1981 launch of MTV in the U.S. (where the first video was the Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles), the first video shown on MTV Europe was Money for Nothing by Dire Straits, which, appropriately, starts and finishes with repetition of the line "I want my MTV", voiced by Sting.
MTV Europe shows at this time included MTV's Greatest Hits, Headbangers Ball, MTV's Most Wanted with Ray Cokes, The Big Picture (movie releases), The Pulse (fashion and style), 120 Minutes with Paul King and the MTV Coca-Cola Report with Kristiane Backer (music news, interviews and tour dates).
MTV Europe bought Breakfast Television Centre in Hawley crescent, Camden Town the former headquarters of ITV's now defunct breakfast television company, TV-am in 1993.
MTV Europe always had its Transmission Centre in London - having been launched in August 1987 from the Chrysalis TV owned Air TV facility.
MTV Europe became something of a pioneer in Europe when in 1995 it began to broadcast using digitally compressed transmissions.
From 1993 to 1996 MTV Europe was broadcast on Russian TV channels 2x2, TV-6, Muz-TV, Seti-NN etc.
In 1997, MTV Networks Europe began to regionalize its MTV feed in a number of areas in Europe.
In March 1997, MTV Central (Central as in Central Europe) was launched as a German-speaking MTV music channel available in Germany and Austria. It was initially broadcast out of Hamburg before moving to Munich and finally Berlin. MTV Central later was renamed MTV Germany.
On 1 July 1997 MTV UK & Ireland launched, followed by MTV Italia in September. MTV Nordic for Scandinavia launched in June 1998 and MTV Russia for Russia launched on 25 September 1998. Since 2000, MTV Networks Europe launched other regional channels across the continent.
In May 2002, the channel re-branded as 'MTV European'. In August 2007, it moved its editorial base from London to Warsaw, Poland, though still beaming its signal from MTV Networks Europe's London headquarters.
Prior to 1 August 2010, MTV Europe provided a unique mix of popular culture programming along with music videos.
As of 1 August 2010, MTV Europe has controversially removed its core music programming and replaced it with reality based programming from MTV US.
MTV Europe is aimed at viewers aged around 16-35, it reaches more than 100 million households in 43 territories.
The channels broadcast centre is located in Prague, Czech Republic (previously London) and programming produced at MTV Networks headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.
In July 2011, MTV Europe rebranded its channel utilizing a new logo and idents.
In August 2012, MTV Europe suspended from programing all of the broadcast charts.
In January 2013, three charts are back on MTV Europe - Hitlist UK, Base Chart and Dance Floor Chart
In Summer 2015, MTV Europe rebranded the channels identity focusing on MTVBump.com initiative and allowing more social friendly idents created by MTV viewers.
As of 2016, MTV Europe serves the following territories:
Albania on Digitalb
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Georgia
Greece
Iceland
Kosovo on iptv ArtMotion
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Moldova
Malta
Middle-East
Serbia
Slovakia
Turkey
Ukraine
MTV Europe is also broadcast in a number of African countries including South Africa, alongside local MTV Base Africa, MTV Portugal and MTV France. MTV European is distributed across Europe via satellite, cable, and terrestrial television.
MTV Germany was available FTA on Astra 19,2E, but it became encrypted on January 1, 2011. Until August 2015 the Italian MTV-station was free to air available on Eutelsat 12 West A. However, with the take-over of Sky Italia of this channel, it has been rebranded TV8. MTV Italia has become an exclusive Sky-channel only for subscribers.
Local
MTV News Daily Update
HitList UK
MTV Base Chart
MTV Dance Floor Chart
MTV Movies
Award Shows and Live Music Specials
MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Movie Awards
MTV World Stage
Isle of MTV
Pan-International
Teen Wolf
The Valleys
Geordie Shore
Teen Mom
The L.A. Complex
Young and Married
Ray Cokes (1987–1996) Cokes & Vanthilt, Ray's Requests, Most Wanted, X-Ray Vision, The Big Picture, European Top 20, MTV's Greatest Hits
Simone Angel (1990–1998) Party Zone, MTV Dance, Dance Floor, Club MTV, Dance Floor Chart, European Top 20, MTV's Greatest Hits, Dial MTV
Paul King (1989–1994) MTV's Greatest Hits, 120 Minutes, MTV News, Morning Mix, HitList UK, XPO, First Look, Dial MTV
Pip Dann (1988–1994) MTV Prime, Post Modern, MTV at the Movies, The Big Picture, Dial MTV, Music Non Stop, European Top 20, XPO, MTV's Greatest Hits, MTV Coca-Cola Report, First Look, RockBlock
Maiken Wexø (1987–1992; 1993) Pure Pop, MTV Coca-Cola Report, European Top 20, MTV News, XPO, MTV Prime
Marcel Vanthilt (1987–1990; 1991) Cokes & Vanthilt, XPO, Most Wanted
Sophie Bramly (1987–1991) Yo! MTV Raps
Chris Salewicz (1987–1993) MTV News
Nunu (1990) Awake on the Wild Side
Sonya Saul (1990-1992) MTV News, XPO
Terry Christian (1991) XPO, Morning Mix
Richie Rich (1993-1994) The Soul of MTV, MTV's Greatest Hits, HitList UK
John Dunton-Downer (1987-1997) 120 Minutes, The Big Picture (producer)
Steve Blame (1987–1994) MTV News, MTV Coca-Cola Report, First Look
Vanessa Warwick (1990–1997) Headbangers Ball, RockBlock
Kristiane Backer (1989–1995) European Top 20, MTV Coca-Cola Report, MTV's Greatest Hits, Awake on the Wild Side, XPO, Party Zone, Headbangers Ball, RockBlock
Rebecca de Ruvo (1991–1995) Dial MTV, Awake on the Wild Side, MTV Prime, European Top 20
Marijne van der Vlugt (1991–1996; 2013; 2015; 2016) The Pulse, MTV Coca-Cola Report, Alternative Nation, 120 Minutes, Post Modern, European Top 20, Dial MTV, Music Non Stop, MTV Europe Music Awards 2013-2015-2016 (voice-over)
Davina McCall (1987; 1992–1998) Hanging Out, HitList UK, MTV Coca-Cola Report, MTV's Greatest Hits, European Top 20, First Look, Music Non Stop, Most Wanted, Party Zone, Cinematic, Singled Out, The End?
Lisa I'Anson (1993–1996) The Soul of MTV, MTV News, HitList UK, Hanging Out, European Top 20, Music Non Stop, Party Zone
Ingo Schmoll (1993–1996) Morning Mix, MTV News, First Look, MTV's Greatest Hits, European Top 20
Enrico Silvestrin (1993–1997) Select MTV, Hanging Out, European Top 20, Dial MTV
Hugo de Campos (1994–1997) Stylissimo, Dial MTV, European Top 20, Music Non Stop, First Look, Hanging Out, The End?
Maria Guzenina (1994–1997) KickStart, Awake on the Wild Side, Morning Mix, Music Non Stop, European Top 20, MTV's Greatest Hits, MTV Amour, MTV at the Movies
Carolyn Lilipaly (1994–1998) MTV News, HitList UK, The Big Picture, MTV Winter Parties
Miles Hunt (1994-1995) 120 Minutes
John Kearns (1995–2012) MTV News, The Big Picture, MTV Europe Music Awards (voice-over)
Toby Amies (1995–1999) Alternative Nation, MTV News, MTV Hot
Eden Harel (1995–2000) European Top 20, Select MTV, Dance Floor Chart, Hanging Out, Dial MTV
Kimsy von Reischach (1995-1998) First Look, European Top 20, MTV's Greatest Hits, MTV Winter Parties, Hanging Out
Julia Valet (1996–1997) Superock, MTV Hot
Nikolai (1996) MTV's Greatest Hits, European Top 20, HitList UK, Morning Mix
Boris (1996-1997) European Top 20, MTV Snowball, First Look
Christian Ulmen (1996–1997) MTV Hot
Crispin Somerville (1996-1997) Select MTV, HitList UK, Hanging Out
Camila Raznovich (1996–1998) MTV Amour, Hanging Out, MTV Summer Festivals, MTV Beach House
Lily Myrhed (1996-1998) HitList UK, MTV Winter Parties, Awake on the Wild Side, Morning Mix
Lars Oostveen "Vico" (1996-1999) Select MTV, Dial MTV
Thomas Madvig (1996-1999) Select MTV, MTV News
Katja Schuurman (1997-2000) So 90's
Melanie Sykes (1997) HitList UK
Cat Deeley (1997–2002) HitList UK, Stylissimo, MTV News, MTV Amour, Dance Floor Chart
Ulrika Eriksson (1998-2003) MTV News, Select MTV, HitList UK, Nordic Top 5, MTV:New, Morning Glory
Kicki Berg (1998–2006) MTV News, Select MTV, European Top 20, Nordic Top 5, Dance Floor Chart, Top Selection, MTV Supermercado
Trevor Nelson (1998-2004) The Lick
Trey Farley (1999-2000) Select MTV, MTV News
Lars Beckung (1999–2006) MTV:New, Select MTV, Nordic Top 5, MTV News, Morning Glory, MTV Source, This Is Our Music
Neil Cole (2000–2004) The Fridge, MTV News, Select MTV, European Top 20, World Chart Express, MTV:New
Joanne Colan (2000–2004) MTV News, European Top 20, MTV Movie Special, Select MTV, MTV:New, MTV Top 20 Countdown, MTV's Winterjam, MTV Presents
Fleur van der Kieft (2000–2002) Top Selection, Select MTV
Frederique Bedos (2001) Select MTV
Erickka Jones (2001) MTV Top 20 Countdown
Mimi Kalinda (2001-2002) Dance Floor Chart, World Chart Express, Top Selection, Select MTV, The Fridge
Ina Geraldine (2003–2004) Euro Top 20
Becky Griffin (2003-2005) Dance Floor Chart, World Chart Express
Amelia Hoy (2004–2005) Euro Top 20, Up North
Axl Smith (2004-2007) Spanking New, Axl Meets, MTV at the Festivals
Pernille Fals Bahrt (2005-2007) MTV News
Archie Archibald (2005-2006) MTV News
Charlotte Thorstvedt (2005–2009) Euro Top 20, Spanking New
Jason Danino-Holt (2006) Switched On
Shire Raghe (2006-2009) MTV News, SuperStar Saturday
Freya Clausen (2007-2009) Fahrenheit, Spanking New, MTV News, MTV Source
Janika Nieminen (2008-2010) MTV Overdrive, SuperStar Saturday
Matthew Bailey (2009–2010) Euro Top 20
