When did MTV launch and what was the first image shown?
MTV launched on the 1st of August 1981 at 12:01 a.m. The first image shown was a grainy, black-and-white montage of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Common questions about MTV
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who designed the original MTV logo and what were its colors?
Manhattan Design created the original MTV logo in 1981 under the creative direction of Fred Seibert. The logo featured a block letter M in yellow and the word TV in red.
Why did MTV initially ignore black artists and when did this change?
MTV originally focused on rock music and had a narrow definition of music that excluded many African American artists. The policy changed in 1984 when Michael Jackson's Billie Jean video was added to the rotation.
What was the first MTV Video Music Awards show and when did it occur?
The first MTV Video Music Awards show occurred in 1984 and featured a live performance by Madonna of Like a Virgin. The statuettes awarded were the MTV moon-man from the channel's 1981 broadcast.
When did MTV begin shifting its focus from music videos to reality programming?
MTV began significantly toning down its focus on music in favor of original reality programming by the mid-1990s. Shows like The Real World and Jersey Shore became central to the channel's identity during this period.