MTV Classic Australia
Encyclopedia
MTV Classic is non-stop classic music channel. It is the sister channel to MTV Australia
and was formerly known as VH1 Australia. It focuses on music from the 1980s to 2000s.. The channel launched on 1 May 2010 in Australia and in New Zealand on 1 June 2011. On 1 July 2011 MTV International channels launched new logos
launched its digital product and then on Austar
and Optus
shortly after. 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
.
Unlike sister channel MTV, the channel still aired a majority of music programming, with VH1 produced entertainment programming shown on MTV or other channels.
which was held in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre
. The event consisted of a line-up of local and international artists including former Guns N' Roses
guitarist Slash
. "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles was the first music video to be played on the channel.
In June 2010, they began carriage on FetchTV
.
On 23 November 2010, MTV Classic is broadcasting in widescreen.
: The glamorous and sexy side of the project who assisted in the production to Inside Track
and David Campbell
: The son of Australia 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 it's cancellation.
Awards show (aired on 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.
In addition to the above, the channel often screens music documentary and concert specials.
.
, Darren Hayes
, PJ Harvey
, Lionel Richie
, Olivia Newton-John
and Chris Isaak
.
MTV Australia
MTV Australia is 24 hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by Viacom International Media Networks Australia owned by Viacom and primarily features imported shows as well as locally produced...
and was formerly known as VH1 Australia. It focuses on music from the 1980s to 2000s.. The channel launched on 1 May 2010 in Australia and in New Zealand on 1 June 2011. On 1 July 2011 MTV International channels launched new logos
As VH1
The channel first aired on Sunday 14 March 2004 when FoxtelFoxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
launched its digital product and then on Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
and Optus
Optus
SingTel Optus Pty Limited is the second largest telecommunications company in Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Telecommunications...
shortly after. In April 2006, Australian pay TV newcomer, SelecTV also began to carry VH1. In 2008 it began carriage on TransACT
TransACT
TransACT Capital Communications is an Australian telecommunications company based in Canberra which provides broadband internet access, fixed telephony, cable television services, and mobile phone services in Canberra and a subset of these services in Queanbeyan, throughout South-east New South...
and Neighbourhood Cable
Neighbourhood Cable
Neighbourhood Cable is a telecommunications provider based in regional Victoria, Australia . Neighbourhood Cable owns and operates Hybrid Fibre Coaxial cable networks in three Victorian regional cities:* Mildura* Ballarat* Geelong...
. The channel although Australian run, mainly showed programming for the US and the UK with programs such as The Fabulous Life of...
The Fabulous Life of...
The Fabulous Life Of... is a VH1 television series detailing the places, things, and services various celebrities enjoy. It first aired in 2003, with a special about Britney Spears. The show is tightly based on the television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.The show is one of VH1's most...
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
MTV Australia
MTV Australia is 24 hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by Viacom International Media Networks Australia owned by Viacom and primarily features imported shows as well as locally produced...
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
Can't Get a Date
Can't Get a Date is a documentary-style reality show on VH1 and Logo.The show takes a variety of subjects from New York City who feel that they have personal issues that are holding them back from finding romance...
. 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
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
took out the top spot with their song Never Tear Us Apart
Never Tear Us Apart
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a single released by Australian rock group INXS in August 1988. It was also included on the band's sixth studio album, Kick. The music was written by Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues-style demo and gave it to Michael Hutchence...
.
Unlike sister channel MTV, the channel still aired a majority of music programming, with VH1 produced entertainment programming shown on MTV or other channels.
Relaunch as MTV Classic
On 10 February 2010, the channel was announced via the MTV Australia website. 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 AwardsMTV Australia Awards
The MTV Australia Awards started in 2005 and is Australia's first awards show to celebrate both local and international acts.-History:...
which was held in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre, Melbourne
The Palace Theatre , is an entertainment venue located in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 1860, it is one of the entertainment venues located in Melbourne’s business and tourism district....
. The event consisted of a line-up of local and international artists including former Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
guitarist Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
. "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles was the first music video to be played on the channel.
In June 2010, they began carriage on FetchTV
FetchTV (Australia)
FetchTV is an Australian IPTV company, operating a subscription television service over a user's regular Internet service. It provides a Set Top Box with Personal Video Recorder for recording from Free-to-Air channels - and adds regular subscription channels, radio, Video on Demand, Pay per view,...
.
On 23 November 2010, MTV Classic is broadcasting in widescreen.
VJ's
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 SheridanZoe Sheridan
Zoe Sheridan is an Australian television presenter, radio announcer and voice over artist.Sheridan was a co-host of the Hot 30 Countdown on Brisbane radio from 1995 to 1998. She moved to Sydney in 1998 for a regular slot on 2Day FM....
: The glamorous and sexy side of the project who assisted in the production to Inside Track
Inside Track
Inside Track was a British property investment information company that went into administration in April 2008 following a downturn in the UK property market...
and David Campbell
David Campbell (Australian musician)
David Joseph Campbell is an Australian singer and stage performer. He has performed and recorded many different genres of music from rock to classics. He is the son of singer Jimmy Barnes.-Theatre career:...
: The son of Australia Rock sensation Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
. 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 it's cancellation.
Programming
MTV Classic airs a variety of artist related programmes as well as established MTV series. The channel aims at the age demographic of 24-40 year olds.ARIA Hall of Fame
VH1 Australia have the rights to The ARIA Hall of FameARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
Awards show (aired on 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
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
, Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
, Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
, INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, Slim Dusty
Slim Dusty
David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
, Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little AO , is an Australian Aboriginal musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career has spanned six decades. For many years he was the only Aboriginal star on the Australian music scene...
and many more.
Other Programming
- Behind the MusicBehind the MusicBehind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
- Celebrity DeathmatchCelebrity DeathmatchCelebrity Deathmatch is a claymation television show that depicts celebrities against each other in a wrestling ring, almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. It was known for its excessive amount of blood used in every match and exaggerated physical injuries...
- Classic AlbumsClassic AlbumsClassic Albums is a documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well-known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of music.-Format:...
- Famous Crime SceneFamous Crime SceneFamous Crime Scene is a VH1 show that follows a documentary format. This show exposes the evidence and the last moments and the subsequent chaos about their deaths; all this through the view of special investigators, and even exposes the point of view and details that only the ones present are able...
- GreatestThe Greatest (TV series)The Greatest is a VH1 series. Each episode counts down either songs, albums, music videos, moments, musicians, or celebrities of a particular category.-Episodes:-References:...
- MTV UnpluggedMTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
- The OsbournesThe OsbournesThe Osbournes is an American reality television program featuring the domestic life of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family. The series premiered on MTV on March 5, 2002, and in its first season, was cited as the most-viewed series ever on MTV...
- Storytellers
- That Metal ShowThat Metal ShowThat Metal Show is a talk show hosted by Eddie Trunk with co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. It premiered on VH1 Classic on November 15, 2008. New episodes air on VH1 Classic on Saturday nights and are rebroadcast throughout the week....
In addition to the above, the channel often screens music documentary and concert specials.
MTV Australia Video Music Awards
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 CherCher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
.
Inside Track
Inside Track featured new music and videos internationally and locally. So far the previous hosts have chatted with JetJet (band)
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
, Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes
Darren Stanley Hayes is a UK-based Australian singer-songwriter. Hayes was the front man and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden, whose 1997 album Savage Garden peaked at No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in United Kingdom and No. 3 in United States...
, PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
, Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
and Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
.
- Countdown - VH1 aired full episode repeats and music clips of ABC's popular music show Countdown. The Countdown special included live performances and interviews.
- GreatestThe Greatest (TV series)The Greatest is a VH1 series. Each episode counts down either songs, albums, music videos, moments, musicians, or celebrities of a particular category.-Episodes:-References:...
- The Meldrum Tapes - A compilation of interviews from the archives of Molly Meldrum produced by the ABC, it began airing from February 2008.
- RockwizRocKwizRocKwiz is an Australian television quiz show series, focused on rock music, and broadcast on SBS One. It premiered in 2005.-Summary:The forty minute program airs on Saturday at 9:20 pm, and is hosted by Julia Zemiro. It is shot in The Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel, commonly...
- Top of the PopsTop of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
- In August 2009 VH1 began screening a repackaged and compiled version of the long running UK music show