While the launch of HBO (in November 1972) is generally given the merit of starting the multi-channel revolution in US homes, it was the launch of MTV, thirty years ago today in 1981, that really kick-started the drift away from network television, and along with CNN (June 1 1980) saw a very real enthusiasm created for niche TV.

MTV created a generation who saw it as cool, it spawned fashion in clothing, film and video – and of course, music. It created the pop-generation where to watch MTV was a badge of membership. It created an on-air ‘club’ where ‘I want my MTV’ became the mantra of millions.

On the downside, perhaps, was its three-minute bites of everything, which had they stayed at three minutes might not have been so bad, but quickly became three-second bites of video content, where it was assumed that viewers would not stay watching if video items were any longer than nano-second slices of fast-moving jump cuts.

It also gave us VJs, and in time VH-1 and a zillion impersonating channels around the globe. But somehow or other MTV remains important, the grand-daddy of them all, yet still only 30-years young.

Other posts by :

1. Russian satellite tumbling out of control
2. FCC boss praises AST SpaceMobile
3. Rakuten makes historic satellite video call
4. Rocket Lab confirms D2C ambitions
5. Turkey establishes satellite production ecosystem
6. Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts
7. Kazakhstan to create museum at Yuri Gagarin launch site
8. AST SpaceMobile gets $42 or $1500 price target
9. Analyst: GEO bloodbath taking place

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTH/Satellite