Planning - MTV

MTV

August 1, 1981 

MTV first launched on the 1st of August 1981, from its base in New York. It started as a music video channel that was guided by a host called Video Jockeys. The founder of MTV Robert W. Pittman, now the President and Chief of MTV Networks, in the 70s Pittman had tested the music format by hosting and producing on a show on WNBC. MTV is the largest TV Network in the world, which holds over 75 MTV channels.

MTV not only has over 75 channels, they also synergised to have Nickelodeon and Comedy Central and BET.

When MTV first aired on TV, they played an footage of the first space shuttle launch countdown of Columbia which took place earlier in the year that MTV aired and the launch of Apollo 11. Within months, record stores started to sell music that were MTV before they were put on radio

The first music video that was played on MTV on the day of the release was 'Video killed the Radio star' by the buggles. Here is the video of the song that was released on it's first day.