MTV Networks
Encyclopedia
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate
Viacom
that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet
brands, including the original MTV
(Music Television) channel in the United States
. MTV Networks also operates MTV Networks International.
The company was established in 1984 after Warner Communications
and American Express
decided to divest the basic cable assets of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
, renaming it MTV Networks, Inc. Warner-Amex originally created and owned Nickelodeon
, MTV, VH1
and The Movie Channel
(TMC).
Viacom acquired 66% of the company in 1985, and then acquired the remaining interest in 1986. It was then folded into Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., and is no longer a distinct legal entity.
ming and audiences they serve.
1Channel created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment prior to 1984.
2Channel originally owned by CBS
, became part of MTV Networks when CBS merged with Viacom.
3Created as VH1 Country prior to Viacom/CBS merger.
4Channel was originally known as VH1 MegaHits
before being discontinued in July 2005 to facilitate Logo launch.
5Channel was originally known as Noggin before being rebranded as Nick Jr. in 2009. Co-owned with Sesame Workshop
from 1999 to 2002.
6Channel was originally known as The N before being rebranded as TeenNick in 2009.
7Channel started as Ha!, merged with HBO's The Comedy Channel
the following year, became fully owned by Viacom in 2003.
8Channel originally known as The Nashville Network
until 2000 and The National Network until 2003.
9Co-owned with Lionsgate and MGM. MTV Networks handles operations.
10Co-owned with Endemol
.
, Addicting Games, MTV News
, MTV International
, Rhapsody (online music service)
, LyricsMode.com, iFilm
, GoCityKids, Jokes.com, GameTrailers
, Xfire
, 365gay.com, Shockwave.com
, and Quizilla
. MTV Networks has also made a partnership with Nexon
to promote its Neopets
service.
On November 2, 2011, MTV Networks announced that they had purchased Channel Awesome
along with its partner, Cinemassacre, which is the home of The Angry Video Game Nerd
, for $2 million, but will continue to operate to continue with their respective series.
& Dance Central
series by Harmonix Music Systems
, its former subsidiarity. Dance Central was the last game from MTV Games before its closure, but will be resurrected in 2012 & will not publish the Rock Band & Dance Central series, as it will focus on other games, starting with The Age of Decadence by Iron Tower Studio. MTV Networks opened another game division called 345 Games in New York City and it will start to publish future games, as well as the Rock Band series & the Dance Central series will be published by Warner Bros. Games. The first game published by 345 Games was Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegaddeon
based on the Comedy Central TV series, Ugly Americans
, London
, Warsaw
and Buenos Aires
. It consists of 64 localized MTV channels, MTVNHD
, VH1
(6 in total), Nickelodeon
,
TMF
, VIVA, Comedy Central
, Game One
, Neopets
, GameTrailers
, Nitrome Limited
, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films
and Xfire
. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via more than 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 350 digital media properties.
The MTV Networks International network consists of:
Media conglomerate
A media conglomerate, media group or media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet...
Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
brands, including the original MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
(Music Television) channel in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. MTV Networks also operates MTV Networks International.
The company was established in 1984 after Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
and American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
decided to divest the basic cable assets of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company was a joint venture owned and operated by Warner Communications and American Express that developed and worked on interactive television systems in the late 1970s and initiated several successful cable...
, renaming it MTV Networks, Inc. Warner-Amex originally created and owned Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
, MTV, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
(TMC).
Viacom acquired 66% of the company in 1985, and then acquired the remaining interest in 1986. It was then folded into Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., and is no longer a distinct legal entity.
Cable channels owned by MTV Networks
Year in parentheses denotes when channel was brought into the MTV Networks fold. MTV Networks' family of brands is divided into three sections, based on the type of television programTelevision program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
ming and audiences they serve.
MTV Networks Music & Logo Group
- MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
(1981)1- MTV2MTV2MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
(1996) - MTV JamsMTV JamsMTV Jams is a Viacom-owned American hip-hop/urban music video channel that debuted on 1998 as MTVX, then was relaunched in 2002 under its current name...
(1998) - MTV HitsMTV HitsMTV Hits is an American music video channel that debuted on May 1, 2002. The format of the network resembles that of the classic MTV before the additional of other programming to that network in the 1990s and their slow decline of music video programming...
(2002) - mtvUMtvUmtvU is a division of Viacom's MTV Networks which produces a 24-hour television channel that is available on more than 750 college and university campuses across the United States, as well as several digital cable packages...
- Tr3́s (2006)
- MTV2
- VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
(1985)- VH1 ClassicVH1 ClassicVH1 Classic is a television network, launched on May 8, 2000. It is operated as part of MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom and primarily features music videos and concert footage from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, though it formerly included a wider range of genres and time periods...
(2000) - VH1 SoulVH1 SoulVH1 Soul is a digital cable and satellite television channel and is the sister network to VH1. It showcases R&B, funk, soul, and Motown music from various periods....
(2000)
- VH1 Classic
- CMTCountry Music TelevisionCountry Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
(1999)2- CMT Pure CountryCMT Pure CountryCMT Pure Country is a digital cable and satellite television channel, it is the sister network to CMT. It showcases country music videos all day from the 1980s to the current day, using the same 8-hour programming wheel schedule repeated three times daily as sister networks MTV Hits and MTV Jams...
(1999)3
- CMT Pure Country
- LogoLogo (TV channel)Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
(2005)4 - Palladia (2006)
MTV Networks Kids & Family Group
- NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
(1979)1- Nick 2, Nickelodeon's alternate East/West feed
- Nick@Nite, evening programming block on Nickelodeon (1985)
- Nick Jr. (1999)5
- TeenNickTeenNickTeenNick, formerly The N, is an American television network aimed at the teenage market. TeenNick is owned by the MTV Networks subsidiary, Viacom. The channel was originally known as The N from its April 1, 2002 launch until September 28, 2009....
(2002)6 - Nicktoons (2002)
MTV Networks Entertainment Group
- Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
(1990)7 - TV LandTV LandTV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
(1996) - Spike (1999) 2 8
- Epix (2009)9
- Blink! (2011) 10
1Channel created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment prior to 1984.
2Channel originally owned by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, became part of MTV Networks when CBS merged with Viacom.
3Created as VH1 Country prior to Viacom/CBS merger.
4Channel was originally known as VH1 MegaHits
VH1 MegaHits
VH1 MegaHits is a music channel available in Brazil. It is owned by Viacom Networks Brazil, subsidiary of MTV Networks Latin America and airs 24-hour chart hits non-stop. The channel replaced the Brazilian version of MTV Hits, after Viacom sold the rights of MTV brand in Brazil.The channel runs on...
before being discontinued in July 2005 to facilitate Logo launch.
5Channel was originally known as Noggin before being rebranded as Nick Jr. in 2009. Co-owned with Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
from 1999 to 2002.
6Channel was originally known as The N before being rebranded as TeenNick in 2009.
7Channel started as Ha!, merged with HBO's The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel (United States)
The Comedy Channel was an all-comedy cable television network owned by Home Box Office, a division of Time Warner. It premiered on November 15, 1989 at 6 p.m. ET, and merged with Viacom's HA! to become CTV: The Comedy Network on April 1, 1991...
the following year, became fully owned by Viacom in 2003.
8Channel originally known as The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
until 2000 and The National Network until 2003.
9Co-owned with Lionsgate and MGM. MTV Networks handles operations.
10Co-owned with Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
.
Former Channels
- Nickelodeon Games and Sports for KidsNickelodeon Games and Sports for KidsNickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids was an American cable television network that was part of MTV Networks's suite of digital cable channels. The channel was available to all Digital cable providers and satellite provider Dish Network...
(1999-2007) - Tempo Networks (2005-2007)
Internet properties
The company also owns internet properties, such as Atom FilmsAtom Films
Atom.com is a broadband entertainment network offering original short subject films, animations, and series by independent creators...
, Addicting Games, MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
, MTV International
MTV International
MTV International a.k.a. and MTVI was the internet-based international version of MTV. The channel was a subsidiary of MTV Networks...
, Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...
, LyricsMode.com, iFilm
IFilm
ifilm.com was an online archive of short films, movie trailers, and other video clips of interest. Ifilm.com was originally founded by independent filmmaker Raphael Raphael in 1997 as an independent film and media collective...
, GoCityKids, Jokes.com, GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
, Xfire
Xfire
Xfire is a proprietary freeware instant messaging service for gamers, that also serves as a game server browser and has various other features. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows. Xfire was originally developed by Ultimate Arena based in Menlo Park, California...
, 365gay.com, Shockwave.com
Shockwave (Game portal)
Shockwave.com or shockwave is an online and offline video games distributor and portal, based in San Francisco, California, United States. Shockwave has three main tabs on its website, namely , , and my shockwave. It hosted over 400 games and ranging in genres, such as puzzle, action, strategy,...
, and Quizilla
Quizilla
Quizilla is a user generated online quiz website. It originally started as a website for quizzes, such as personality quizzes. Many users were posting "quizzes" that were actually chapters of fan fiction, so a legitimate section for stories was added even though it is not always used...
. MTV Networks has also made a partnership with Nexon
Nexon Corporation
Nexon Co. Ltd. is a South Korean video game developer and publisher of online games and MMORPGs. Founded in Seoul in 1994, Nexon's headquarters is currently based in Tokyo. Nexon provides over 30 games which are serviced in 72 countries globally, reaching 1.14 billion players...
to promote its Neopets
Neopets
Neopets is a virtual pet website that was launched by Adam Powell and Donna Williams on November 15, 1999. Two years after the web site was launched, Adam Powell and Donna Williams sold a majority share to a consortium of investors led by Doug Dohring. On June 20, 2005, Viacom bought Neopets, Inc...
service.
On November 2, 2011, MTV Networks announced that they had purchased Channel Awesome
Channel Awesome
Channel Awesome is an online media production company based in Naperville, Illinois. The company was created in 2008 by Mike Michaud , Mike Ellis and Bhargav Dronamraju...
along with its partner, Cinemassacre, which is the home of The Angry Video Game Nerd
The Angry Video Game Nerd
The Angry Video Game Nerd , is the main character and title of a series of farcical retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe...
, for $2 million, but will continue to operate to continue with their respective series.
Game properties
MTV had a game division called MTV Games, which used to publish the Rock BandRock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
& Dance Central
Dance Central
Dance Central is a music video game for the Xbox 360 that utilizes the Kinect motion peripheral. The game was developed by Harmonix, creators of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises, and is a launch title for Kinect...
series by Harmonix Music Systems
Harmonix Music Systems
Harmonix Music Systems is an American video game development company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States...
, its former subsidiarity. Dance Central was the last game from MTV Games before its closure, but will be resurrected in 2012 & will not publish the Rock Band & Dance Central series, as it will focus on other games, starting with The Age of Decadence by Iron Tower Studio. MTV Networks opened another game division called 345 Games in New York City and it will start to publish future games, as well as the Rock Band series & the Dance Central series will be published by Warner Bros. Games. The first game published by 345 Games was Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegaddeon
Ugly Americans (TV series)
Ugly Americans is an American animated television series created by Devin Clark and developed by David M. Stern. The program focuses on the life of Mark Lilly, a social worker employed by the Department of Integration, in an alternate reality version of New York City inhabited by monsters and other...
based on the Comedy Central TV series, Ugly Americans
Ugly Americans (TV series)
Ugly Americans is an American animated television series created by Devin Clark and developed by David M. Stern. The program focuses on the life of Mark Lilly, a social worker employed by the Department of Integration, in an alternate reality version of New York City inhabited by monsters and other...
MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International is a division of Viacom International. Its headquarters are based in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. It consists of 64 localized MTV channels, MTVNHD
MTVNHD
MTV Live HD is an international 24-hour HD music and entertainment television network that is operated by Viacom International Media Networks' subsidiary MTV Networks Poland...
, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
(6 in total), Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon Europe
Nickelodeon the cable and digital satellite television network dedicated to kids. Nickelodeon is widely available throughout Europe as a subscription service or free-to-air service; depending on what region in Europe you are living in...
,
TMF
The Music Factory
The Music Factory is a pop music television channel that operates in Belgium .TMF previously operated channels in the Netherlands , the UK with TMF UK and Australia with . The brand is owned by MTV Networks International...
, VIVA, Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, Game One
Game One
Game One is a French television channel owned by MTV Networks Europe.The channel has shown several Japanese anime on a regular basis, such as Fairy Tail, Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z Kai and Eyeshield 21.-External links:*...
, Neopets
Neopets
Neopets is a virtual pet website that was launched by Adam Powell and Donna Williams on November 15, 1999. Two years after the web site was launched, Adam Powell and Donna Williams sold a majority share to a consortium of investors led by Doug Dohring. On June 20, 2005, Viacom bought Neopets, Inc...
, GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
, Nitrome Limited
Nitrome Limited
Nitrome Limited, commonly known as Nitrome, is an independent game development company based in London, England, United Kingdom. The company makes Flash-based games. Their games are recognizable by the pixel art design and cartoon-like appearance, along with a jingle to the start of every game and...
, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films
Atom Films
Atom.com is a broadband entertainment network offering original short subject films, animations, and series by independent creators...
and Xfire
Xfire
Xfire is a proprietary freeware instant messaging service for gamers, that also serves as a game server browser and has various other features. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows. Xfire was originally developed by Ultimate Arena based in Menlo Park, California...
. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via more than 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 350 digital media properties.
The MTV Networks International network consists of:
- MTV Networks EuropeMTV Networks EuropeMTV Networks Europe is a division of Viacom International Media Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom.MTV Networks Europe includes the multimedia entertainment brands: MTV, VH1, TMF, VIVA, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Nick Jr...
- MTV Networks Latin AmericaMTV Networks Latin AmericaMTV Networks Latin America is a subsidiary of Viacom-owned MTV Networks International. MTVNLA's operational headquarters is located in Miami, FL, USA soon to be relocated to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. As currently being based in the United States, all MTVNLA channels are regulated by the...
- MTV Networks Asia
- MTV Networks Latin America, US Hispanic and Canada
- MTV Networks AfricaMTV BaseMTV Base is a 24-hour music and general entertainment channel from MTV Networks International. The channel focuses primarily on music from the world of R'n'B, hiphop, reggae, soul and urban. The MTV Base brand first launched in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland on July 1, 1999,...
See also
- MTV Networks EuropeMTV Networks EuropeMTV Networks Europe is a division of Viacom International Media Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom.MTV Networks Europe includes the multimedia entertainment brands: MTV, VH1, TMF, VIVA, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Nick Jr...
- MTV Networks Latin AmericaMTV Networks Latin AmericaMTV Networks Latin America is a subsidiary of Viacom-owned MTV Networks International. MTVNLA's operational headquarters is located in Miami, FL, USA soon to be relocated to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. As currently being based in the United States, all MTVNLA channels are regulated by the...
- MTV Networks Asia PacificMTV Networks Asia PacificMTV Networks Asia Pacific comprises three distinctly branded television channels, MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 in the Asia Pacific region reaching more than 300 million households. Since its inception in 1 January 1994, MTV Networks Asia Pacific has been providing localized channels for young audiences...
- MTV Networks AfricaMTV Networks AfricaMTV Networks Africa is a division of MTV Networks International, a subsidiary of Viacom. MTV Networks Africa includes the multimedia entertainment brands: MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon....
- MTV Networks Russia
External links
- MTV Networks official web site
- http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/mtv-networks-tries-to-hide-news-of-layoffs/
- http://www.laweekly.com/2005-10-13/news/who-hates-their-mtv/