MTV

The pre-history of MTV began in 1977 but had launched on August 1 1981 12:01 am. MTV (music television) is an American network which had started in New York which had launched on August 1 1981. MTV had revolutionized the music industry and become an influential source of pop and entertainment to America and other parts of the world. Other countries include: Brazil, Denmark, Greece, UK, India, South Korea and many more. The creator of MTV was Robert W. Pittman. John Lack was the VJ (video jockey) at the time. In the early day of MTV, basic music videos were introduced by the VJ, and was given for free by record companies. Money was then invested in making creative and cutting edge videos.
By the late 1980's, MTV then started airing non music videos directed towards teenagers and young adults. Its popular reality series 'The real world' launched in 1992 which was then followed by popular shows such as: The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills. MTV also debuted animated series including Beavis and Butthead and Celebrity Deathmatch, as well as documentaries, news, game shows and public service campaigns on topics ranging from voting rights to safe sex. MTV has also launched other channels in the US and around the world. Some channels in the US include: MTV2, Palladia, VH1, Comedy central, Nickelodeon and others. Other countries around the world have fewer MTV channels, the most famous being Nickelodeon.
During the early years of MTV, very few black artists had their music video shown on the channel. At the time, Rick James' "Super Freak" was rejected due to MTV saying it did not fit in with the genre. Eventually to resolve the struggle and finally "break the color barrier," the president of CBS Records, Walter Yetnikoff, announced to take away MTV's ability to play any of the record label's music videos. It was believed that 'Billie jean' was the song gthat broke the colour barrier. In the late 1990's and early 2000's, MTV placed a stronger focus on displaying reality TV shows and related series, like The Real World and Road Rules in the 1990's. With the reality shows came the game shows. In the late 90's, they began doing prank and comedy shows.