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VH1

VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the BET Media Group subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group based in New York City. The network was originally owned by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment; a division of Warner Communications, and the original owner of then-sister channel MTV at the time. It was launched in the channel space of Turner Broadcasting System short-lived Cable Music Channel.

VH1 was originally conceived to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos targeting a slightly older demographic focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music.[2] Like MTV, VH1 ultimately drifted away from music and into reality television programming; albeit with a focus on music personalities, celebrities, and shows targeting African-American audiences. VH1 is best known for franchises such as Behind the Music, the I Love… series, the Celebreality block, Love & Hip Hop, and Basketball Wives.

As of December 2023, VH1 is available in approximately 67,481,000 American households;[3] down from 90.2 million in January 2016.[4]

History

VH1, an acronym for Video Hits One, launched on January 1, 1985 over the channel space of Turner's Cable Music Channel.[5][6] The channel originally focused on music and programming aimed at older audiences than its sibling channel at the time, MTV.[7]

On August 27, 1985, parent company Warner Communications sold 31% of VH1 and its siblings (MTV and Nickelodeon; which were already divested by Warner into MTV Networks) to Viacom.[8][9] Viacom would eventually buy the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $326 million on May 20, 1986.[10][11] By 1989, VH1's music programming would cater to Top 40, adult contemporary, classic rock, and 1980s mainstream pop.[12] During the 1990s, VH1 would gain popularity for original music-related programs such as Pop-Up Video and Behind the Music.

In the 2000s, VH1 would begin to scale down its music offerings, while shifting its focus to pop-culture and nostalgia-based programming; including reality television shows focused on celebrities, and various documentaries and panel shows. Headlining this programming shift would be VH1's Celebreality block, featuring The Surreal Life & its franchise of various spinoffs. One spin off, Flavor of Love, proved to be a ratings success, and is cited by observers as the beginning of the network's programming leaning towards shows about African-American personalities (such as the Basketball Wives and Black Ink Crew franchises); similar to BET and its sister networks.[13][14] In 2011, VH1 debuted the first installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise; which would go on to become the network's longest-running program.

On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to the BET Media Group under Scott Mills.[1]

Programming

Original programming currently seen on VH1 includes the Love & Hip Hop and the Basketball Wives franchises. Other notable shows and franchisees that have aired on the network include Black Ink Crew, The Impact: New York (a spinoff of BET+'s The Impact: Atlanta), RuPaul's Drag Race (which was moved over from Logo, and aired on VH1 from 2017–2022), reruns and new episodes of Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (which originated on MTV), and Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party.[15]

Since the 2010's, and prior to its move to BET, VH1's programming had shifted towards urban music genres and African-American personalities.

Sister and international networks

VH1 HD

VH1 HD (launched in 2005) is a 1080i high-definition feed, with all major providers carrying the network; as of 2016 this feed is downgraded at a provider's headend to provide the network's standard definition channel on systems.

Sister channels in the U.S.

VH1 initially launched four spinoff digital networks as part of The MTV Suite, with another being launched at a later date. By August 2016, these channels spinoffs had either been realigned under the MTV, BET, or CMT branding, or were shuttered altogether.

Internet

VH1's website launched in the mid-1990s. In 2003, MTV Networks VSPOT, a broadband video channel that followed the model of MTV Overdrive, containing the shows aired by VH1 and music videos. Like Overdrive, it was coolly received due to a heavy reliance on broadband and advanced web technologies. VH1 returned to a traditional-style website in late 2007.

International networks

As with other MTV channels, Paramount Global has broadcast international versions of VH1, besides VH1 India they all closed down however:

In Canada, CHUM Limited launched MuchMoreMusic, a sister channel to MuchMusic (which was considered to be MTV's Canadian counter-part), in 1998. The channel would air the majority of VH1's music and reality programming until 2013.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (November 9, 2022). "VH1 Shifts From Paramount Media Networks To BET Media Group Under Scott Mills". Deadline. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Sherwood, Rick (October 5, 1984). "VH-1 wants adult video viewers". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). (New York Times). p. 11.
  3. ^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: January 2016". Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Warner takes MTV, Nickelodeon public" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. June 25, 1984. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ "BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks". The New York Times. July 19, 1985. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  7. ^ Becker, Anne (May 3, 2009). "VH1 Hits a New High Note". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
  8. ^ "Viacom to Buy Warner Stake In Cable Units". The Washington Post. August 27, 1985.
  9. ^ "Viacom gets its MTV (page 50)" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. September 2, 1985. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (September 17, 1986). "VIACOM CHIEF LEADS GROUP'S BUYOUT BID (Published 1986)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 23, 2021. In November 1985, Viacom acquired MTV Networks for $326 million in cash and warrants. One-third of MTV was publicly owned; the rest was owned by Warner Communications and the American Express Company. At the same time, Viacom bought 50 percent of Showtime, the pay television service, that it did not already own for $184 million.
  11. ^ "Viacom has bought MTV and Showtime/TMC" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. May 20, 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "1991 VH1 Commercials". YouTube. October 27, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "Once You Go Black: VH1 and the Growing Power of Black TV Viewers". Complex. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Why VH1 Gets to Be Black Without the Burden". The Root. October 29, 2014. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "MTV's "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out" Expands to VH1 for Summer Stunt" (Press release). The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "MTV Networks discontinues VH1 Uno". Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  17. ^ "Blic Online | Srbija dobija svoj VH1 kanal". Blic.rs. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  18. ^ "Vh1 Adria". Facebook. October 19, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "Norlys varsler prisstigning og kanalændringer på tv-pakker fra 1. marts - den lille tv-pakke stiger med 45,- / måned". digitalt.tv (in Danish). January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Salaris, Marco (January 3, 2024). "VH1 cessa le trasmissioni tv domenica 7 gennaio 2024". TvBlog (in Italian). Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ^ TVEpg.eu. "VH1 - Cruising With Jane McDonald - Sat 28 Dec 2019 15:05 GMT". tvepg.eu. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to VH1.