MTV Classic (American TV channel)

VH1 Classic

Vh1classicus.jpg
Type	Digital cable/Satellite television network (Music)
Country	United States
Availability	USA (Only on digital cable services)
Owner	MTV Networks (Viacom)
Launch date	May 8, 2000

VH1 Classic is an American TV network started in May 8, 2000. It is operated as part of MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom. It primarily features music videos and concert footage from the '70s through the mid-'90s. It formerly showcased '50s music, which has disappeared from the channel. Occasionally, a video from the '60s is shown on the channel.

The network originally played only videos but is more frequently showing non-musical programming like movies, holiday specials and showing repeats of some VH1 shows like Behind the Music. The recent trend away from music videos mirrors the other channels in the MTV family.

Hosts of the network are Amy Scott, Eddie Trunk, Toni J., Andrea Mineo, and Lynn Hoffman.

In early 2007 the networks management decided to discontinue producing new original segments and artist interviews, closed the studio, and let go of the entire staff in one day [1].

List of VH1 Classic Shows

• Shows that play videos only:
  • VH1 Classic 120 Minutes – Formerly The Alternative. A block of classic alternative videos.
  • Rock Fest – Classic rock music videos from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including concert footage.

• Shows that are not video-focused: (Some of these programs may show videos but that is not the primary focus of the show. Some are reruns that were originally aired on VH1.)
  • Classic Albums – Tells the story behind the making of some of the greatest albums of all time through interviews the artist and producers. Artists include The Who, Phil Collins, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Judas Priest, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Bob Marley, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Nirvana, Cream.

• Past shows that are not video-focused: These shows are no longer aired on VH1 Classic.
  • Rock and Roll Picture Show – Originally part of VH1, films that are music oriented are presented. These includes Rocky Horror Picture Show, This is Spinal Tap, Rock Star, Grease, The Song Remains the Same.
  • BBC Crown Jewels – A BBC acquisition vintage concert series, shows include Sight and Sound in Concert, In Concert, The Old Grey Whistle Test, and Rock Goes To College. Artists include The Faces, The Police, The Kinks, Joni Mitchell, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Joe Jackson, Thin Lizzy.
  • Classic Concert – classic artists' concerts presented in their entirety, although some are edited from commercial DVD releases these include Rush - R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, Rush - Rush in Rio, KISS - Kissology (Live At the Summit 1977), Judas Priest Rising In the East, Queensryche Operation: LIVEcrime, Dream Theater Score, Pink Floyd P*U*L*S*E, Duran Duran Live from London, U2 Zoo TV: Live from Sydney, No Doubt Rock Steady - Live, Heaven and Hell Live from Radio City, Damn Yankees Uprising, KISS Live from Sydney, Poison Swallow This Live
  • Classic Jukebox – A semi-annual show where celebrity guests are allowed to pick any video they want to see.
  • Hangin' with Encore – a music act spends time in VH1 Classic Studios and performs.
  • Headline Act – Features videos and interviews from a single artist. Usually a half hour in length, it has occasionally been expanded to an hour
  • History of Rock and Roll – miniseries that documents the rise of rock and roll.
  • Rock Docs
  • Turn Tables – A segment where VH1 Classic veejays discuss a particular music topic.
  • Decades Rock Live - Concerts celebrating long-time famous acts with today's acts. The show debuted in 2005. As of 2007, the show has continued to air the prior episodes.

Past Shows

• All Star Jams- Well-known songs and artists.
• The Sixties Generation - 60s block.
• The Super Seventies - An hour long program which aired videos and performances from artists of the 1970s. The clips shown were not genre-specific. It was replaced in 2006 by 70s A to Z.
• 70s A to Z - 70s block. Replaced The Super Seventies in 2006.
• VH1 Classic Soul - R&B from the 1960s through the 1990s.
• Pop Show- Pop hits & stars.
• The Vault - Similar to All Star Jams, but with rarely seen videos from either popular or obscure artists.
• All Request Hour- Viewer Requests by email. The show debuted in 2002. As of April 2007, it is no longer on regular rotation.
  • Metal Mania – A block (1 hr Mon/Fri, 2 hrs Sat, with late-night extended showings on occasion) playing all forms of Heavy Metal, hosted by Eddie Trunk. The show also includes news of upcoming tours & album releases and a rock trivia segment.
  • Pop-Up Video – The classic VH1 series with pop-up bubbles of information during videos.
  • Class of... – Focuses on videos of a particular year
  • Tuesday Twoplay – Weekly block featuring back-to-back songs from various artists.
  • VH1 Classic Current – An artist's well-known songs, paired with new releases.
  • We Are the Eighties – Videos from the 1980s. Not genre-specific. The title video for We Are the Eighties was based on the animated part of Money For Nothing by Dire Straits and also includes catch-phrases from the 1980's.
  • You Can't Stop Hip Hop – Hip hop videos from the 1980s.
  • Hip Hop Honors – Hip hop videos from the 80s.

Annual shows and specials

VH1 Classic Thanksgiving

Each year VH1 Classic honors its viewers by inviting their favorite classic artists to join the VH1 staff for a Thanksgiving dinner. There was also a similar show which was done for Passover.

All Roads Lead to Sturgis

An annual VH1 Classic show that spotlights the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Metal Month

In May of 2006, VH1 classic, with some help from VH1, focused on Heavy Metal. The month saw the premieres of the Top 40 metal songs, Heavy: The Story of Metal, and VH1 Rock Honors.

First day of MTV

On August 1, 2006, VH1 Classic re-created the first day of MTV in honor of the network's 25th anniversary. VH1 Classic showed the videos and short clips of other linking material from that day. They did not show the VJs.

Further information: First music videos aired on MTV

Some videos were aired on VH1 Classic's tribute that were not among those known to have been played on MTVs first day. Those videos included:

1. "All Night Long" by Rainbow
2. "Come What May" by Lani Hall
3. "Dangerous Type" by The Cars
4. "I Don't Want to Know" by Robin Lane and The Chartbusters
5. "I Hope I Never" by Split Enz
6. "I Wont Let You Down" by PhD
7. "Heart of Glass" by Blondie
8. "Holiday" by Nazareth
9. "In My Arms Again" by The Shoes
10. "Johnny and Mary" by Robert Palmer
11. "Kid" by The Pretenders
12. "Let's Go" by The Cars
13. "Living in the Plastic Age" by The Buggles
14. "Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band
15. "Message to You Rudy" by The Specials
16. "More Than I Can Say" by Leo Sayer
17. "Passing Strangers" by Ultravox
18. "Primetime" by The Tubes
19. "Rough Boys" by Pete Townshend
20. "So Long" by Fischer-Z
21. "Tattooed Love Boys" by The Pretenders
22. "Tomorrow Night" by The Shoes
23. "Turn It On Again" by Genesis
24. "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors
25. "Vienna" by Ultravox
26. "Waiting For The Weekend" by The Vapors
27. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love & Understanding" by Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Hall of Fame weekend block

During the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions in 2006, VH1 Classic dedicated the entire weekend to current Rockhall members. Artists included either true members like Eric Clapton or related non-members like Derek and the Dominos.

Top 20 Greatest

In 2006, the network began showing artists, songs and soundtracks that became the Top 20 Greatest on its list. The shows include Top 20 Soundtracks, Top 20 Videos of the 80s, Top 20 Videos of All Time, Top 20 Metal Bands, Top 20 Women Artists and Top 20 Love Songs.

The Concert For New York City will be rebroadcast on VH1 Classics January 1, 2008 beginning at 1PM EST.

International channels

• VH1 Classic UK is a British channel based on the same format as the US one, and has been on air since 1999.
• VH1 Classic European is an English language station broadcasting to Germany, Austria, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Slovak Republic, Portugal, France. This version has been launched on the 1st of December 2005. Previously, the UK version was shown.

Both these channels are operated by MTV Networks Europe in London.

External links

• VH1 Classic US
• VH1 Classic UK
• The VH1 Classic Fanlisting
• VH1 Classic - UK and Ireland TV Listings and Schedules