30 Years of MTV

30 years ago, on August 1^st, 1981, MTV broadcast its first video, Video killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. It was only available in a few U.S. states at first, before becoming available to the entire nation. It reached Europe by the mid-80s via satellite and cable; later a regional branch was launched (MTV Europe).

MTV is now the staple of the 80s, like Madonna, the Star Wars program, boomboxes and floppy discs. I wonder, what has made bigger impact: CNN or MTV? In fact, MTV was like that 24-hour music news station: with videos, interviews, specials, etc. It was on MTV that I first saw such bands as The Specials, Madness, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Oasis. I was especially fond of a program called 120 Minutes, it was quite educational: nowhere else on TV you could see the likes of The Fall, Public Image Ltd and other ultra indie bands.

By the end of the 1990s MTV faced a fierce competition from VH1 and other music stations, but most importantly, the Internet; the audience was shrinking. It was under such circumstances that MTV turned to reality shows at the turn of the new century, breaking away from its well-established format. It gained a new audience, while averting the old-timers, including me. What’s on MTV now I can only imagine. But it served its purpose and people will always remember the station for what it did back in the 80s.

Do you remember the first video you watched on MTV? Or the music video that impressed you enough to remember it after 20-30 years?