MTV Hits (U.S. TV Network)

MTV Hits (U.S. TV Network)
Launched May 1, 2002 (May 1, 2002)
Owned by Viacom Media Networks (Viacom)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Country United States
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters New York City, New York
Sister channel(s) MTV
MTV2
MTV Live
mtvU
Tr3s
Availability
C-Band AMC 18-Channel 232 (H2H 4DTV)
Cable
Available on many U.S. cable providers Check local listings for channels
Verizon FiOS Channel 214
IPTV
AT&T U-verse Channel 509

MTV Hits is an American digital cable television network that is owned by Viacom Media Networks. The channel primarily broadcasts music videos and its format resembles that of MTV before the addition of other programming to that network in the 1990s, and the slow decrease in its reliance on music video programming. Like MTV and VH1's other spin-off channels, MTV Hits is based on an automated "wheel" schedule that was introduced during the early years of MTV2. The loop repeats three times a day, starting at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, and then resetting at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

History

When MTV Hits launched on May 1, 2002, its programming consisted entirely of music videos. As with MTV Jams, the network was named for a daily program on MTV; in this case, MTV Hits, which was that network's main pop music video program. The network consisted of current hit music videos, along with a few older videos from earlier in the year, as well as a few from the late 1990s. The network maintained a commercial-free format, outside of internal promotions for MTV and MTV-branded properties.

My Hitlist era (2005–2006)

MTV Hits's first logo, used from the network's launch in 2002 until March 26, 2012. The logo was modified in February 2010 to remove the Music Television tag, though the publicity department of MTV Networks never released a version of that logo.

In 2005, the network began airing a feature called "My Hitlist Month", which was based on viewer selected playlists, submitted to a newly launched network website. This, as well as artist-selected playlists, aired occasionally on the network through 2006.

Playlistism era (2006–2011)

On December 18, 2006, the "Hit List" theme returned to MTV Hits. At first, "Playlistism" consisted of replays of the viewer hit lists from the past, as well as new playlists from sister networks MTV2 and MTVU, as well as artist and themed playlists. In 2009, the network began to accept traditional commercial advertising, which generally consists of direct response advertising and ads for ringtone providers.

March 2012 reimaging

Until March 26, 2012, the network's logo remained the same since its launch, with a minor readjustment in February 2010 of the iconic "M" to remove the Music Television tagline and a small quarter of the logo in line with the official rebranding of all MTV networks. A new logo and imaging was introduced on that date, featuring all text in bold Helvetica, including a minimal-style logo with the 2010 MTV logomark next to the word "Hits". MTV Jams followed with the same reimaging on April 13.

Current programming

The network discontinued many of the playlist shows throughout 2009 and 2010, while keeping the Playlistism name until it faded out entirely by late January 2011, when the network restored its former 'illustration from a music box' imaging to identify the network between commercial blocks. The lower-left banner which formerly listed playlist dedications is now solely dedicated to promotional messages and a rolling advertisement for the network's music video web portal. MTV News segments (usually not pertaining to news but segments about upcoming films and albums) also air on the network, and are currently the only daily presence of the network's news division on any of MTV's American networks.

Generally, except for artists which were popular before the period, all music videos on the channel are from after 1997, with a heavy focus on current music.

Themed blocks

The network's programming is focused mostly on themed blocks, with the general music video programming being The Hit List;

Other blocks vary by season.

Another feature on the channel is weekly Video Premieres, with new videos airing at the top of each hour throughout the day. In October 2012, MTV Hits began simulcasting college-oriented sister network mtvU on weekdays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET, branded as "mtvU on MTV Hits", allowing for mtvU programming to be seen outside of college campuses, or on cable systems that do not carry the national mtvU feed. This simulcast was discontinued in January 2013.

Current Lineup

Like MTV and VH1's other spin-off channels, MTV Hits is based on an automated "wheel" schedule that was introduced during the early years of MTV2. The loop repeats three times a day, starting at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, and then resetting at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. As of February 2016, the lineup is listed below.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
6 a.m. ET The Hit List Pop Playback Latest & Greatest The Hit List Throwback Thursday Pop Playback MTV Jams
7 a.m. ET Fresh Faces New Music Monday Videos We Heart Killer Collabs Songs That Don't Suck Clubland Videos We Heart
8 a.m. ET Videos We Heart Songs That Don't Suck MTV Jams Videos We Heart Killer Collabs Songs That Don't Suck Clubland
9 a.m. ET Killer Collabs Fierce Females Pop Playback Clubland The Hit List Fresh Faces Weekend Shuffle
10 a.m. ET Weekend Shuffle The Hit List Hits Takeover Humpday Hits Latest & Greatest The Hit List Hits Takeover
11 a.m. ET Fierce Females Man Crush Monday Songs That Don't Suck Latest & Greatest Videos We Heart Killer Collabs Songs That Don't Suck
12 p.m. ET Songs That Don't Suck Videos We Heart Fierce Females Songs That Don't Suck MTV Jams Videos We Heart Latest & Greatest
1 p.m. ET Hits Takeover Killer Collabs The Hit List Woman Crush Wednesday Pop Playback Fierce Females The Hit List

Availability

MTV Hits, as a part of the MTV Digital Suite, is available on the digital tiers of many cable providers, along with Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-verse. It is one of the few remaining Digital Suite channels that is not available on DirecTV or Dish Network (the Digital Suite having been created to provide an advantage of digital cable-exclusive channels to providers). One of the last cable holdouts, Time Warner Cable, added the music channels of the Digital Suite in the summer of 2012 as part of a wider agreement to give TWC's tablet application access to Viacom's networks.[1]

International versions

The logo for the MTV Hits channels outside the United States.

Australia

Main article: MTV Hits Australia

MTV Hits Australia launched on November 1, 2010, and is available through Foxtel and Fetch TV.[2][3] MTV Hits Australia was later replaced by MTV Music Australia on December 3, 2013 for Foxtel viewers and on December 23, 2013 for Fetch TV viewers. The channel is no longer available in Australia.

Latin America

MTV Hits Latin America is carried on several digital cable systems in Latin America in a localized form. This version still uses the Playlistism model, a remainder of the period when MTV Hits U.S. was broadcast in the region.

New Zealand

Main article: MTV Hits New Zealand

MTV Hits New Zealand launched on December 1, 2011, and is exclusively available on Sky TV New Zealand. MTV Hits New Zealand airs 24 hours 7 days a week playing highly-successful chart hit music videos from today's age in music. Usually the schedule is filled with countdowns and themed music shows showcasing music videos currently doing their rounds in New Zealand.

UK & Ireland

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, MTV Hits plays chart hits non-stop. There are very few MTV shows on this channel, but there are many music-related themed blocks (such as Urban Beats and Spanking New Music). The channel launched on May 1, 2001, replacing MTV Extra.

Italy

Main article: MTV Hits (Italy)

In Italy, MTV Hits plays chart hits non-stop. The channel was launched on August 23, 2003.

Brazil

On January 29, 2010, the Brazilian version of MTV Hits was renamed VH1 MegaHits, after Abril, the parent company of MTV Brasil, gained exclusive rights to the MTV brand in that country. MTV Hits remains as the title of a program, MTV Hits, on that network.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (16 May 2012). "Viacom, Time Warner Cable settle app flap; Viacom channels to be available on iPad viewing service". Variety. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.foxtel.com.au/about-foxtel/communications/foxtel-announces-dedicated-3d-channel-and-new-channel-line-u-94874.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.fetchtv.com.au/features/channels/mtv-hits.html

External links

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