MTV Classic (United States): Difference between revisions

MTV Classic
Country	United States
Network	MTV (2016–present); VH1 (1998–2016)
Headquarters	New York City, New York, United States
Programming
Language(s)	English
Picture format	480i (SDTV)
Ownership
Owner	Paramount Global
Parent	MTV Entertainment Group
Sister channels	List MTV; MTV2; MTV Tres; MTV Live; ;
History
Launched	August 1, 1998; 26 years ago
Former names	VH1 Smooth (1998–1999); VH1 Classic Rock (1999–2000); VH1 Classic (2000–2016);
Links
Website	www.mtv.com/classic
Availability
Streaming media
Affiliated Streaming Service	Paramount+
Internet Protocol television	Philo, FuboTV, AT&T TV, YouTube TV, Vidgo TV, Hulu + Live TV

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MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Smooth, VH1 Classic Rock, and VH1 Classic) is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. It was originally launched in 1998 as "VH1 Smooth", an adult contemporary and smooth jazz channel. It was relaunched as "VH1 Classic Rock" in 1999 (later renamed "VH1 Classic" until 2016), with an emphasis on classic rock. On August 1, 2016, in honor of MTV's 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as "MTV Classic", and now exclusively displays music videos from all genres from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

As of December 2019^[update], MTV Classic is available to approximately 39,000,000 pay television households in the United States.^[1]

History

1998–1999: VH1 Smooth

VH1 Smooth launched on August 1, 1998 as a part of the "Suite" digital package, delaying the initial launch date of July 31, 1998.^[2]^[3] The channel that focused on smooth jazz, new age, and adult contemporary music.^[2]^[4] The first music video to play on the channel was a cover of "Makin' Whoopee" by Branford Marsalis.^[5]

1999–2016: VH1 Classic

Relaunched on August 1, 1999 as VH1 Classic Rock, the channel primarily featured a mainstream rock/adult hits-formatted mix of music videos and concert footage from the 1960s to the 1980s, though it originally included a wider range of genres and time periods.^[6] The channel name was quickly changed to VH1 Classic in 2000.

The network played only music videos upon launch, but quickly expanded to a varied line-up of music-themed programs. This included themed music video compilation blocks (with categories such as Heavy Metal music, or popular music of the 1980s), full-length concerts, music documentaries such as the Classic Albums and Behind the Music series, music-oriented films (such as Prince's Purple Rain and The Blues Brothers), and an original talk show, That Metal Show.^[7] It also re-broadcast programs first aired on the main VH1, including Pop-Up Video and I Love the '80s.

From January 28 until February 15, 2015, VH1 Classic aired a 19-day marathon of NBC's Saturday Night Live in celebration of the series' 40th anniversary.^[8]^[9] As a result, the network broke a previous record for the longest continuous marathon in television history set by FXX's twelve-day marathon of The Simpsons.^[10]

2016–present: MTV Classic

In July 2016, Viacom announced that on August 1, the 35th anniversary of the original MTV's launch, the network would rebrand as MTV Classic. The channel's programming continues to focus on classic music videos and programming (including notable episodes of MTV Unplugged and Storytellers), but skews more towards from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The rebranded network schedule also included reruns of past MTV original series such as the 2011 Beavis and Butt-Head revival and Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.^[11] The network's relaunch took place at 6:00 a.m. ET with a rebroadcast of MTV's first hour on the air, which was also simulcast on MTV and online via Facebook live streaming, branded as "MTV Hour One" (the channel, as VH1 Classic, had recently aired it to mark the network's 30th anniversary in 2011).^[12]^[13] Several VH1 Classic programs were retained in the existing schedule, albeit in late night hours.

Three days leading up to December 30, 2016, MTV Classic aired 24-hour block "Decade-a-thons" consisting of music videos from the 1980s leading up to the 2000s.^[14] Afterwards, MTV Classic unveiled a new automated all-music video schedule, with all of the older MTV and VH1 Classic series content removed.^[11] Since then, the only deviation from the automation has been "roadblock" simulcasts of the annual MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Movie & TV Awards to remove any competition from other Paramount networks, as well occasional marathons of older MTV shows to promote new series or season launches (as was done with The Hills to promote The Hills: New Beginnings),

As of the end of the year 2016, the channel was the least-watched English-language channel on most American subscription providers, averaging only 30–35,000 viewers on an average night in primetime (a decline of nearly a third from the already-low numbers VH1 Classic had netted in 2015), which was likely a factor in the network quickly abandoning their new format after five months.^[15]^[16] As of the end of May 2017, its numbers have slipped even further to an average of 14,000 viewers per night, only ahead of the moribund Esquire Network and beIN Sports, which at that time of the year is in its non-prime sports season.^[17] Even those low numbers were halved by the end of July 2017, as that month's ratings showed it averaging 7,000 viewers per night, ahead of only the beIN networks.^[18] If not for the addition of the seven Entertainment Studios Networks to Nielsen monitoring at the end of 2017, alongside a decline in beIN Sports's ratings, it would have been the lowest rated English-language network in 2017 with a 14,000 viewer/night average.^[19] Since then, it has steadily remained the fourth-to-last ranked network, behind beIN Sports and ESN's Comedy.TV and its five-network cumulative "ESN Lifestyles" entry for the remainder of its networks.^[20]^[21]

Occasionally, the channel interrupts regular music video programming to air specific music videos in tribute to a recently deceased musician. Following Tony Bennett's death on July 21, 2023, MTV Classic exclusively aired Bennett's music videos and live performances for the subsequent weekend, regardless of whatever block was scheduled. Some musicians or performers, such as Steve Harwell of the rock band Smash Mouth, have their music videos broadcast periodically throughout the day of their death, mixed into regular programming.

Programming

References

^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Hay, Carla (July 11, 1998). "MTV, Box Take Steps In Digital Programming" (PDF). Vol. 110, no. 28. pp. 8, 92. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^ "The Suite from MTV and VH1" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. January 26, 1998. p. 54. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^ Carter, Bill (November 25, 1997). "Using New Digital Technology, MTV Adds Specialized Channels". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^ Hay, Carla (August 22, 1998). "MuchMusic Readies Awards, Spinoff Channel; MTV's Suite Set". Vol. 110, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 85. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^ Hay, Carla (August 14, 1999). "Launch Debuts 5 Web Channels; VH1 Smooth Now Classic Rock". Vol. 111, no. 33. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 101. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^ "VH1 CLASSIC Will No Longer Produce 'That Metal Show'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 19, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Steinberg, Brian (January 14, 2015). "VH1 Classic To Run 433-Hour 'Saturday Night Live' Marathon". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
^ Petski, Denise (January 14, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' Mega-Marathon Set To Air On VH1". Deadline. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Bradley, Bill (April 9, 2014). "'The Simpsons' Launches On FXX With Longest Continuous Marathon Ever". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Greene, Andy (June 7, 2017). "Flashback: A Random 78 Minutes of MTV From June 1982". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
^ "MTV Classic bringing The 2011 Beavis and Butt-Head, Aeon Flux and music videos back on-air". Polygon. Vox Media. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
^ "MTV Launches 'Classic' Channel Dedicated to 1990s". Rolling Stone. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
^ Barton, Chris (December 29, 2016). "A made-for-TV New Year's: From 'Twilight Zone' to James Bond, a rundown of the marathons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
^ Collins, Scott; Maglio, Tony (December 29, 2016). "21 Least-Watched Cable Channels, From MTV Classic to Sprout". TheWrap. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
^ Crupi, Anthony (February 27, 2017). "Small change: Why niche cable nets are on their last legs | Media - AdAge". Advertising Age. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
^ Katz, A.J. (June 6, 2017). "Cable Network Ranker: Week of May 29". TVNewser. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
^ Katz, AJ (July 25, 2017). "MSNBC Wins Weeknights Across the Board; Fox News is Most-Watched For Full Calendar Week | TVNewser". Adweek. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
^ Schneider, Michael (December 28, 2017). "Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers". IndieWire. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2018's Winners and Losers". December 27, 2018.
^ Schnieder, Michael (December 26, 2019). "Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019's Winners and Losers". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2019.

External links

Official website

[1] "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.

[Smooth-2] Hay, Carla (July 11, 1998). "MTV, Box Take Steps In Digital Programming" (PDF). Vol. 110, no. 28. pp. 8, 92. Retrieved March 12, 2017.

[3] "The Suite from MTV and VH1" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. January 26, 1998. p. 54. Retrieved March 12, 2017.

[4] Carter, Bill (November 25, 1997). "Using New Digital Technology, MTV Adds Specialized Channels". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2017.

[5] Hay, Carla (August 22, 1998). "MuchMusic Readies Awards, Spinoff Channel; MTV's Suite Set". Vol. 110, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 85. Retrieved March 12, 2017.

[6] Hay, Carla (August 14, 1999). "Launch Debuts 5 Web Channels; VH1 Smooth Now Classic Rock". Vol. 111, no. 33. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 101. Retrieved March 12, 2017.

[7] "VH1 CLASSIC Will No Longer Produce 'That Metal Show'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 19, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2017.

[VH1Classic-8] Steinberg, Brian (January 14, 2015). "VH1 Classic To Run 433-Hour 'Saturday Night Live' Marathon". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

[9] Petski, Denise (January 14, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' Mega-Marathon Set To Air On VH1". Deadline. Retrieved July 31, 2017.

[EverySimpsonsEver-10] Bradley, Bill (April 9, 2014). "'The Simpsons' Launches On FXX With Longest Continuous Marathon Ever". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2014.

[RS-11] Greene, Andy (June 7, 2017). "Flashback: A Random 78 Minutes of MTV From June 1982". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 3, 2017.

[polygon-mtvclassic-12] "MTV Classic bringing The 2011 Beavis and Butt-Head, Aeon Flux and music videos back on-air". Polygon. Vox Media. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.

[rollingstone-mtvclassic-13] "MTV Launches 'Classic' Channel Dedicated to 1990s". Rolling Stone. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.

[14] Barton, Chris (December 29, 2016). "A made-for-TV New Year's: From 'Twilight Zone' to James Bond, a rundown of the marathons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 1, 2017.

[15] Collins, Scott; Maglio, Tony (December 29, 2016). "21 Least-Watched Cable Channels, From MTV Classic to Sprout". TheWrap. Retrieved January 3, 2017.

[16] Crupi, Anthony (February 27, 2017). "Small change: Why niche cable nets are on their last legs | Media - AdAge". Advertising Age. Retrieved February 27, 2017.

[17] Katz, A.J. (June 6, 2017). "Cable Network Ranker: Week of May 29". TVNewser. Retrieved June 7, 2017.

[18] Katz, AJ (July 25, 2017). "MSNBC Wins Weeknights Across the Board; Fox News is Most-Watched For Full Calendar Week | TVNewser". Adweek. Retrieved July 26, 2017.

[19] Schneider, Michael (December 28, 2017). "Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers". IndieWire. Retrieved December 28, 2017.

[20] "Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2018's Winners and Losers". December 27, 2018.

[21] Schnieder, Michael (December 26, 2019). "Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019's Winners and Losers". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2019.

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 {{Infobox television channel
 | name = MTV Classic
-| logo = MTV Classic_2021.svg
+| logo = [[File:MTV Classic_US.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
 | logo_size = 200px
 | logo_alt = MTV Classic logo
 | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1998|08|01}}
 | owner = [[Paramount Global]]
-| parent = [[MTV Entertainment Group]] ([[Paramount Media Networks]])
+| parent = [[MTV Entertainment Group]]
 | picture_format = [[480i]] ([[SDTV]])
 | country = United States
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 * [[MTV Live (TV network)|MTV Live]]
 }}
-| timeshift_service = MTV Classic East{{br}}MTV Classic West
 | website = {{URL|http://www.mtv.com/classic}}
-| online_serv_1 = [[Internet Protocol television]]
+| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service
+| online_chan_1 = [[Paramount+]]
-| online_chan_1 = [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[FuboTV]], [[AT&T TV]], [[YouTube TV]], Vidgo TV, [[Hulu|Hulu + Live TV]]
+| online_serv_2 = [[Internet Protocol television]]
+| online_chan_2 = [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[FuboTV]], [[AT&T TV]], [[YouTube TV]], Vidgo TV, [[Hulu|Hulu + Live TV]]
 }}
 {{MTV}}
-'''MTV Classic''' (formerly '''VH1 Smooth''', '''VH1 Classic Rock''', and '''VH1 Classic''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television network|network]] owned by [[Paramount Media Networks]]. It was originally launched in 1998 as VH1 Smooth, an [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]] and [[smooth jazz]] channel. It was relaunched as VH1 Classic Rock in 1999 (later renamed VH1 Classic until 2016), with an emphasis on [[classic rock]]. On August 1, 2016, in honor of [[MTV]]'s 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as MTV Classic, and now exclusively shows [[music video]]s from all genres from the late 1970s to the mid 2010s. On August 5, 2022, MTV Classic got a new refresh with some idents being aired on 16:9 letterbox.
+'''MTV Classic''' (formerly '''VH1 Smooth''', '''VH1 Classic Rock''', and '''VH1 Classic''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television network|network]] owned by [[Paramount Media Networks]]. It was originally launched in 1998 as "VH1 Smooth", an [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]] and [[smooth jazz]] channel. It was relaunched as "VH1 Classic Rock" in 1999 (later renamed "VH1 Classic" until 2016), with an emphasis on [[classic rock]]. On August 1, 2016, in honor of [[MTV]]'s 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as "MTV Classic", and now exclusively displays [[music video]]s from all genres from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
+{{As of|2019|12}}, MTV Classic is available to approximately 39,000,000 pay television households in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>
 == History ==
 === 1998–1999: VH1 Smooth ===
-'''VH1 Smooth''' launched on August 1, 1998 as a part of the "Suite" digital package, delaying the original launch date of July 31, 1998.<ref name="Smooth">{{cite news|last1=Hay|first1=Carla|title=MTV, Box Take Steps In Digital Programming|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-07-11.pdf|access-date=March 12, 2017|volume=110|issue=28|date=July 11, 1998|pages=8, 92}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Suite from MTV and VH1|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-01-26.pdf|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|access-date=March 12, 2017|date=January 26, 1998|page=54}}</ref> The channel focused on [[smooth jazz]], [[new age music|new age]], and [[adult contemporary]] music.<ref name="Smooth"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Bill|title=Using New Digital Technology, MTV Adds Specialized Channels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/arts/using-new-digital-technology-mtv-adds-specialized-channels.html|access-date=March 12, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 25, 1997}}</ref> The first music video to play on the channel was a [[cover version|cover]] of "[[Makin' Whoopee]]" by [[Branford Marsalis]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hay|first=Carla|title=MuchMusic Readies Awards, Spinoff Channel; MTV's Suite Set|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQoEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22VH1+Smooth%22&pg=PA85|access-date=March 12, 2017|volume=110|issue=34|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|date=August 22, 1998|page=85|language=en}}</ref>
+'''VH1 Smooth''' launched on August 1, 1998 as a part of the "Suite" digital package, delaying the initial launch date of July 31, 1998.<ref name="Smooth">{{cite news|last1=Hay|first1=Carla|title=MTV, Box Take Steps In Digital Programming|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-07-11.pdf|access-date=March 12, 2017|volume=110|issue=28|date=July 11, 1998|pages=8, 92}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Suite from MTV and VH1|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-01-26.pdf|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|access-date=March 12, 2017|date=January 26, 1998|page=54}}</ref> The channel that focused on [[smooth jazz]], [[new age music|new age]], and [[adult contemporary]] music.<ref name="Smooth"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Bill|title=Using New Digital Technology, MTV Adds Specialized Channels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/arts/using-new-digital-technology-mtv-adds-specialized-channels.html|access-date=March 12, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 25, 1997}}</ref> The first music video to play on the channel was a [[cover version|cover]] of "[[Makin' Whoopee]]" by [[Branford Marsalis]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hay|first=Carla|title=MuchMusic Readies Awards, Spinoff Channel; MTV's Suite Set|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQoEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22VH1+Smooth%22&pg=PA85|access-date=March 12, 2017|volume=110|issue=34|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|date=August 22, 1998|page=85|language=en}}</ref>
 === 1999–2016: VH1 Classic ===
-[[File:LOGO VH1 CLASSIC.svg|alt=VH1 Classic|thumb|VH1 Classic]]
+[[File:LOGO VH1 CLASSIC.svg|alt=VH1 Classic|thumb|VH1 Classic logo (2007-2016)]]
 Relaunched on August 1, 1999 as '''VH1 Classic Rock''', the channel primarily featured a [[mainstream rock]]/[[adult hits]]-formatted mix of music videos and concert footage from the 1960s to the 1980s, though it originally included a wider range of genres and time periods.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mggEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22VH1+Classic+Rock%22+%2B+%22VH1+Smooth%22&pg=PA101|title=Launch Debuts 5 Web Channels; VH1 Smooth Now Classic Rock|last=Hay|first=Carla|volume=111|issue=33|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|date=August 14, 1999|page=101|language=en|access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> The channel name was quickly changed to '''VH1 Classic''' in 2000.
-The network played only music videos upon launch, but quickly expanded to a varied line-up of music-themed programs. This included themed music video compilation blocks (with categories such as [[Heavy metal music|Heavy Metal]] music, or popular music of the 1980s), full-length concerts, music documentaries such as the ''[[Classic Albums]]'' and ''[[Behind the Music]]'' series, music-oriented films (such as ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]'' and ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]''), and an original talk show, ''[[That Metal Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/vh1-classic-will-no-longer-produce-that-metal-show/|title=VH1 CLASSIC Will No Longer Produce 'That Metal Show'|date=January 19, 2016|work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=July 31, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> It also re-broadcast programs first aired on the main VH1, including ''[[Pop-Up Video]]'' and ''[[I Love the '80s (U.S. TV series)|I Love the '80s]]''.
+The network played only music videos upon launch, but quickly expanded to a varied line-up of music-themed programs. This included themed music video compilation blocks (with categories such as [[Heavy metal music|Heavy Metal]] music, or popular music of the 1980s), full-length concerts, music documentaries such as the ''[[Classic Albums]]'' and ''[[Behind the Music]]'' series, music-oriented films (such as Prince's ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]'' and ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]''), and an original talk show, ''[[That Metal Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/vh1-classic-will-no-longer-produce-that-metal-show/|title=VH1 CLASSIC Will No Longer Produce 'That Metal Show'|date=January 19, 2016|work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=July 31, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> It also re-broadcast programs first aired on the main VH1, including ''[[Pop-Up Video]]'' and ''[[I Love the '80s (American TV series)|I Love the '80s]]''.
 From January 28 until February 15, 2015, VH1 Classic aired a 19-day marathon of NBC's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in celebration of the series' 40th anniversary.<ref name="VH1Classic">{{cite web|last1=Steinberg|first1=Brian|title=VH1 Classic To Run 433-Hour 'Saturday Night Live' Marathon|date=January 14, 2015|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/vh1-classic-to-run-433-hour-saturday-night-live-marathon-1201404896/|publisher=Variety|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/saturday-night-live-mega-marathon-vh1-snl-rewind-1201349898/|title='Saturday Night Live' Mega-Marathon Set To Air On VH1|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=January 14, 2015|work=Deadline|access-date=July 31, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> As a result, the network broke a previous record for the longest continuous marathon in television history set by [[FXX]]'s twelve-day marathon of ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref name="EverySimpsonsEver">{{cite web|last1=Bradley|first1=Bill|title='The Simpsons' Launches On FXX With Longest Continuous Marathon Ever|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/09/simpsons-launches-on-fxx-longest-marathon_n_5120709.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=April 9, 2014|access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>
 === 2016–present: MTV Classic ===
-In July 2016, Viacom announced that on August 1, the 35th anniversary of the original [[MTV]]'s launch, the network would rebrand as '''MTV Classic'''. The channel's programming continues to focus on classic music videos and programming (including notable episodes of ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' and ''[[VH1 Storytellers|Storytellers]]''), but skews more towards from the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s to the mid 2010s. The rebranded network schedule also included reruns of past MTV original series such as the 2011 ''[[Beavis and Butt-head]]'' revival and ''[[Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County]]''.<ref name=RS/> The network's relaunch took place at 6:00&nbsp;a.m. ET with a rebroadcast of MTV's [[First music videos aired on MTV|first hour on the air]], which was also simulcast on MTV and online via [[Facebook]] live streaming, branded as "MTV Hour One" (the channel, as VH1 Classic, had recently aired it to mark the network's 30th anniversary in 2011).<ref name="polygon-mtvclassic">{{cite web|title=MTV Classic bringing The 2011 Beavis and Butt-Head, Aeon Flux and music videos back on-air|url=http://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/7/28/12310498/mtv-classic-premiere-date-programming-block|website=Polygon|date=July 28, 2016|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone-mtvclassic">{{cite magazine|title=MTV Launches 'Classic' Channel Dedicated to 1990s|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mtv-launches-classic-channel-dedicated-to-1990s-w431416|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> Several VH1 Classic programs were retained in the existing schedule, albeit in late night hours.
+In July 2016, Viacom announced that on August 1, the 35th anniversary of the original [[MTV]]'s launch, the network would rebrand as '''MTV Classic'''. The channel's programming continues to focus on classic music videos and programming (including notable episodes of ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' and ''[[VH1 Storytellers|Storytellers]]''), but skews more towards from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The rebranded network schedule also included reruns of past MTV original series such as the 2011 ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'' revival and ''[[Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County]]''.<ref name=RS/> The network's relaunch took place at 6:00&nbsp;a.m. ET with a rebroadcast of MTV's [[First music videos aired on MTV|first hour on the air]], which was also simulcast on MTV and online via [[Facebook]] live streaming, branded as "MTV Hour One" (the channel, as VH1 Classic, had recently aired it to mark the network's 30th anniversary in 2011).<ref name="polygon-mtvclassic">{{cite web|title=MTV Classic bringing The 2011 Beavis and Butt-Head, Aeon Flux and music videos back on-air|url=http://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/7/28/12310498/mtv-classic-premiere-date-programming-block|website=Polygon|date=July 28, 2016|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone-mtvclassic">{{cite magazine|title=MTV Launches 'Classic' Channel Dedicated to 1990s|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mtv-launches-classic-channel-dedicated-to-1990s-w431416|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> Several VH1 Classic programs were retained in the existing schedule, albeit in late night hours.
-Three days leading up to December 30th 2016, MTV Classic aired 24-hour block "Decade-a-thons" consisting of music videos from the 1980s leading up to the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barton|first1=Chris|title=A made-for-TV New Year's: From 'Twilight Zone' to James Bond, a rundown of the marathons|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-new-years-tv-marathons-20161221-story.html|access-date=January 1, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> Afterwards, MTV Classic unveiled a new automated all-music video schedule, with all of the older MTV and VH1 Classic series content removed.<ref name=RS>{{cite news|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Flashback: A Random 78 Minutes of MTV From June 1982|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-random-78-minutes-of-mtv-from-june-1982-w485973|access-date=July 3, 2017|work=Rolling Stone|date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> Since then, the only deviation from the automation has been "roadblock" simulcasts of the annual ''[[MTV Video Music Award]]s'' and ''[[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]'' to remove any competition from other Paramount networks, as well occasional marathons of older MTV shows to promote new series or season launches (as was done with ''[[The Hills (TV series)|The Hills]]'' to promote ''[[The Hills: New Beginnings]]'').
+Three days leading up to December 30, 2016, MTV Classic aired 24-hour block "Decade-a-thons" consisting of music videos from the 1980s leading up to the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barton|first1=Chris|title=A made-for-TV New Year's: From 'Twilight Zone' to James Bond, a rundown of the marathons|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-new-years-tv-marathons-20161221-story.html|access-date=January 1, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> Afterwards, MTV Classic unveiled a new automated all-music video schedule, with all of the older MTV and VH1 Classic series content removed.<ref name=RS>{{cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Flashback: A Random 78 Minutes of MTV From June 1982|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-random-78-minutes-of-mtv-from-june-1982-w485973|access-date=July 3, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> Since then, the only deviation from the automation has been "roadblock" simulcasts of the annual ''[[MTV Video Music Award]]s'' and ''[[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]'' to remove any competition from other Paramount networks, as well occasional marathons of older MTV shows to promote new series or season launches (as was done with ''[[The Hills (TV series)|The Hills]]'' to promote ''[[The Hills: New Beginnings]]''),
-As of the end of the year 2016, the channel was the least-watched English-language channel on all of U.S. subscription providers, averaging only 30–35,000 viewers on an average night in primetime (a decline of nearly a third from the already-low numbers VH1 Classic had netted in 2015), which was likely a factor in the network quickly abandoning their new format after five months.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Scott|last2=Maglio|first2=Tony|title=21 Least-Watched Cable Channels, From MTV Classic to Sprout|url=https://www.thewrap.com/20-least-watched-entertainment-cable-channels-2016-mtv-classic-sprout/?mode=3|access-date=January 3, 2017|work=TheWrap|date=December 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/media/small-change/308086/|title=Small change: Why niche cable nets are on their last legs &#124; Media - AdAge|last=Crupi|first=Anthony|date=February 27, 2017|work=[[Advertising Age]]|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> As of the end of May 2017, its numbers have slipped even further to an average of 14,000 viewers per night, only ahead of the moribund [[Esquire Network]] and [[beIN Sports (USA)|beIN Sports]], which at that time of the year is in its non-prime sports season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cable-network-ranker-week-of-may-29/331489|title=Cable Network Ranker: Week of May 29|last=Katz|first=A.J.|date=June 6, 2017|work=[[TVNewser]]|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> Even those low numbers were halved by the end of July 2017, as that month's ratings showed it averaging 7,000 viewers per night, ahead of only the beIN networks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-wins-weeknights-across-the-board-fox-news-is-most-watched-for-full-calendar-week/336178|title=MSNBC Wins Weeknights Across the Board; Fox News is Most-Watched For Full Calendar Week &#124; TVNewser|last=Katz|first=AJ|date=July 25, 2017|work=[[Adweek]]|access-date=July 26, 2017}}</ref> If not for the addition of the seven [[Entertainment Studios Networks]] to Nielsen monitoring at the end of 2017, along with a decline in beIN Sports's ratings, it would have been the lowest rated English-language network in 2017 with a 14,000 viewer/night average.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/highest-network-ratings-2017-most-watched-hbo-cbs-espn-fx-msnbc-fox-news-1201911363/|title=Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=December 28, 2017|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Since then, it has steadily remained the fourth-to-last ranked network, behind beIN Sports and ESN's Comedy.TV and its five-network cumulative "ESN Lifestyles" entry for the remainder of its networks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/12/network-ratings-top-channels-espn-cnn-fox-news-cbs-nbc-abc-1202030597/|title = Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2018's Winners and Losers|date = December 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-fox-news-espn-cnn-cbs-nbc-abc-1203440870/|title=Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019's Winners and Losers|last=Schnieder|first=Michael|date=December 26, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>
+As of the end of the year 2016, the channel was the least-watched English-language channel on most American subscription providers, averaging only 30–35,000 viewers on an average night in primetime (a decline of nearly a third from the already-low numbers VH1 Classic had netted in 2015), which was likely a factor in the network quickly abandoning their new format after five months.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Scott|last2=Maglio|first2=Tony|title=21 Least-Watched Cable Channels, From MTV Classic to Sprout|url=https://www.thewrap.com/20-least-watched-entertainment-cable-channels-2016-mtv-classic-sprout/?mode=3|access-date=January 3, 2017|work=TheWrap|date=December 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/media/small-change/308086/|title=Small change: Why niche cable nets are on their last legs &#124; Media - AdAge|last=Crupi|first=Anthony|date=February 27, 2017|work=[[Advertising Age]]|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> As of the end of May 2017, its numbers have slipped even further to an average of 14,000 viewers per night, only ahead of the moribund [[Esquire Network]] and [[beIN Sports (USA)|beIN Sports]], which at that time of the year is in its non-prime sports season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cable-network-ranker-week-of-may-29/331489|title=Cable Network Ranker: Week of May 29|last=Katz|first=A.J.|date=June 6, 2017|work=[[TVNewser]]|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> Even those low numbers were halved by the end of July 2017, as that month's ratings showed it averaging 7,000 viewers per night, ahead of only the beIN networks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-wins-weeknights-across-the-board-fox-news-is-most-watched-for-full-calendar-week/336178|title=MSNBC Wins Weeknights Across the Board; Fox News is Most-Watched For Full Calendar Week &#124; TVNewser|last=Katz|first=AJ|date=July 25, 2017|work=[[Adweek]]|access-date=July 26, 2017}}</ref> If not for the addition of the seven [[Entertainment Studios Networks]] to Nielsen monitoring at the end of 2017, alongside a decline in beIN Sports's ratings, it would have been the lowest rated English-language network in 2017 with a 14,000 viewer/night average.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/highest-network-ratings-2017-most-watched-hbo-cbs-espn-fx-msnbc-fox-news-1201911363/|title=Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=December 28, 2017|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Since then, it has steadily remained the fourth-to-last ranked network, behind beIN Sports and ESN's Comedy.TV and its five-network cumulative "ESN Lifestyles" entry for the remainder of its networks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/12/network-ratings-top-channels-espn-cnn-fox-news-cbs-nbc-abc-1202030597/|title = Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2018's Winners and Losers|date = December 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-fox-news-espn-cnn-cbs-nbc-abc-1203440870/|title=Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019's Winners and Losers|last=Schnieder|first=Michael|date=December 26, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>
+Occasionally, the channel interrupts regular music video programming to air specific music videos in tribute to a recently deceased musician. Following [[Tony Bennett]]'s death on July 21, 2023, MTV Classic exclusively aired Bennett's music videos and live performances for the subsequent weekend, regardless of whatever block was scheduled. Some musicians or performers, such as [[Steve Harwell]] of the rock band [[Smash Mouth]], have their music videos broadcast periodically throughout the day of their death, mixed into regular programming.
 == Programming ==
 {{Main|List of programs broadcast by MTV Classic}}
 == References ==
 {{Reflist}}

v t e Paramount Media Networks
Kids & Family Entertainment (Nickelodeon Group)	Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nick at Nite Nick Jr. Channel NickMusic Nicktoons TeenNick
Entertainment and Youth Group (MTV Entertainment Group)	Comedy Central CMT CMT Music Logo TV MTV MTV2 MTVU MTV Classic MTV Live Tres Paramount Network Pop Smithsonian Channel TV Land Production MTV Entertainment Studios
Premium Networks Group (Showtime Networks)	Showtime The Movie Channel Flix