Have you ever wondered where to find MTV and its sister stations in your DirecTV channel lineup? Or been curious about what the network currently airs after all these years? As your friendly TV aficionado guide, I‘ve got all the inside details in this handy MTV viewing guide.
First up, let‘s quickly cover the key questions:
- What MTV channels are on DirecTV and what numbers are they? Check the table below for the channel location of MTV flagship and siblings like MTV2, MTV Classic, etc.
- When did MTV start? MTV revolutionized music and television upon launch in 1981 with 24/7 music videos.
- Does MTV still play any music programming today? Yes! While not as music-focused as it once was, you can still find legacy series like Unplugged on the network.
- Why does MTV air Ridiculousness all the time? Simple – high ratings and viewer demand!
Trust me, there‘s a lot more fascinating history and insider context around MTV‘s evolution over 40+ years. From music video pioneer to reality TV trendsetter, I‘ll give you the full lowdown on all things MTV – past, present, and future.
So grab some snacks, get cozy, and let‘s dive in! This is your ultimate fan guide to unlocking MTV on DirecTV. 😎
Quick Guide: MTV Channels on DirecTV
Before we get to the good stuff, here‘s a handy reference of where you can find MTV stations in your DirecTV channel guide:
| **MTV** | 331 |
| **MTV2** | 332 |
| **MTV Classic** | 336 |
| **MTV Live** | 572 |
Boom! Now you can skip endlessly scrolling through channels trying to hunt down MTV. 😅
The History of MTV: From Moon Landing to TRL
Let‘s go back to the very beginning. MTV stands for "Music Television" and transformed television when it premiered in 1981.
The mastermind behind it? A sharp exec named Bob Pittman at Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. He wanted to create an entire channel devoted 24/7 to something never seen before: music videos.
Up until then, the only way you could see a music video was if an artist decided to put together a short film production for one of their songs. There was no central place to experience the visual musical medium.
So Pittman decided to change that forever by launching MTV at 12 AM on August 1, 1981.
The very first music video to air? "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles. Talk about some foreshadowing! 😜
MTV took advantage of the new cable television boom – targeting a market of music loving teens that were being ignored. Practically overnight, the fledgling channel became THE platform for artists to reach young audiences through short-form visual content paired with songs.
Music videos were finally accessible to the masses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No longer did you have to constantly hope for a chance sighting of your favorites‘ flashy film production clipped in a late night talk show or variety program.
Throughout era-defining decades, MTV held an enormous influence over pop music culture and turned artists into household names…
The 1980s: MTV ushered in the video star power of pop icons like Madonna, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson. Glam metal bands enjoyed meteoric rises thanks to nearly non-stop MTV airplay – without it, acts like Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi might never have become mega-famous.
The 1990s: MTV amplified the success of musicians across genres like Nirvana, TLC, Backstreet Boys, Notorious B.I.G, and more. Total Request Live premiered, becoming a pinnacle moment in 90s culture. Artists clamored for that top TRL spot!
The 2000s: Pop starts like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Beyoncé achieved global celebrity in large part from MTV‘s influence during the teen pop boom. Hip-hop continued its mainstream rise thanks to MTV supporting acts like Jay Z and 50 Cent.
But over time, MTV started playing..fewer music videos.
In their place came a wave of original programming – especially reality shows. While controversial, the shift proved extremely successful for MTV. Let‘s explore those key moments:
From The Real World to Today: MTV‘s Journey Into Reality
1992 marked a pivotal transition for MTV – the debut of pioneering reality series The Real World.
While music still dominated most of airtime, the runaway hit show kicked off a gradual shift for MTV. More of these reality documentaries, animated comedies like Beavis and Butt-head, and other youth-skewing experiments emerged throughout the 90s.
Music videos took a backseat as MTV expanded into fashioning buzzy original programming aimed squarely at adolescents and young adults.
The biggest reinforcements came between 2000-2010 when MTV unaired a staggering 40 new reality shows over just two years.
Breakout hits included:
- The Osbournes – Basically kicked off celeb-reality TV by documenting Ozzy Osbourne‘s family drama.
- Punk‘d – Ashton Kutcher pranking celebrities was somehow really riveting.
- The Hills – Basically defined MTV‘s glossy, soapy reality aesthetic.
- Jersey Shore – The antics of loud East Coast twenty-somethings captivated audiences.
- 16 and Pregnant – Launched several successful Teen Mom spinoffs that still air today.
- The Challenge – Morphed real-world alums into reality competition icons across 38 seasons.
Thanks to watercooler reality sensations like these, MTV cemented itself as the trendsetting hub for youth pop culture in the 2000s.
But many fans still missed…you know, the actual music. By 2010, airtime for music videos fell from over 50 hours per week in 2000 down to just 12 hours per week.
The MTV of Today: More Music & Reality Revamps
Luckily within the last 5 years, MTV has course-corrected to bring back more music coverage amidst its reality roster. Alongside staples like The Challenge and Teen Mom, you‘ll now find fresh new music updates and performances sprinkled throughout the week.
Here‘s a quick look at staples of the current MTV lineup:
Music Programs
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MTV Unplugged – The iconic live stripped-down performance series has aired continuously since 1989. Recent episodes spotlight today‘s stars like Shawn Mendes, Bleachers, and Lil Nas X baring their talents in an acoustic set.
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MTV Fresh Out – This weekly rundown launched in 2020 keeps you updated on the latest tracks, music video premieres, pop culture developments, and rising artists interviews from the MTV crew.
Reality Mainstays
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The Challenge – Now in its jaw-dropping 38th season, the ultimate competition reality series shows no signs of slowing down. Alumni from MTV hits battle it out for money and glory performing wild challenges.
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Teen Mom: Next Chapter – The latest iteration of 16 and Pregnant spinoffs follows cast members from Teen Mom OG and Teen Mom 2 blending families under one roof.
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Siesta Key – In its 4th dramatic season, the steamy show charts rivalries, relationships, work frustrations, and party antics of attractive young friends living the beach lifestyle in Siesta Key, Florida.
And yes…plenty of Ridiculousness too! Just hold tight.
Competitions & Variety
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Love At First Lie – MTV‘s newest competition series has singles participate in outrageous activities to try finding love while sussing out who‘s lying. Launched just this January as MTV‘s latest buzzy reality effort.
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Becoming A Popstar – Aspiring singers face off in music challenges judged by celebrity guests Joseph Kahn and Tinashe among others in thisMaking the Band-esque competition for an Epic Records recording contract.
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Deliciousness – MTV darling Tiffany Haddish hosts a panel of funny friends reacting to and cracking jokes about viral food-focused videos.
And yes – Ridiculousness still reigns as MTV‘s most-watched show, drawing in 125% more viewers than the next highest show. More on why coming in just a bit!
Okay, Let‘s Talk About Ridiculousness…
In case you‘ve been wondering why MTV airs about 57 episodes of Ridiculousness each day…there‘s some rock-solid reasoning behind the programming choice!
Premiering back in 2011, Ridiculousness seemed like just another fun viral video commentary show hosted by skater/internet celeb Rob Dyrdek alongside co-hosts Sterling "Steelo" Brim and Chanel West Coast.
But then something unexpected happened – viewers could not get enough of Ridiculousness!
Season after season, Ridiculousness kept growing its audience and outpacing every other show‘s ratings on MTV. Based on my insider intel as your programming pal, here are the key reasons why:
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Mass Appeal – Its simple format gives Ridiculousness incredibly widespread appeal. Just about anyone can enjoy a 20-minute montage of funny viral clips.
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Viewing Habit – By airing so many back-to-back episodes, MTV has made binge-watching Ridiculousness a familiar viewing ritual. Fans keep returning out of habit without getting bored.
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Strong Host Chemistry – The trio‘s commentary strikes a perfect balance of hilarity, camaraderie, and slick presentation matched to the fast-paced clips.
So essentially – Ridiculousness makes for the perfect channel-surfing distraction, never failing to garner a chuckle. MTV rides this winning formula hard by feeding audience demand with constant marathons.
Even as MTV expands into more music coverage and buzzy new reality experiments like The Love Experiment, Ridiculousness still rules the roost as king of MTV‘s flagship. The comfort food of MTV programming if you will!
What Became of MTV‘s Music Savior: MTV2 ?
Remember how MTV drifting away from 24/7 music videos kickstarted this whole reality television revolution in the first place? Well thankfully, MTV2 emerged in 1996 to save music video fans everywhere!
With MTV focused on originals, MTV2 positioned itself as the home for music videos – old and new, mainstream and indie – across genres like hip-hop, hard rock, and alternative.
For over a decade, MTV fans and even music artists cheered on MTV2 as the go-to place to experience the visual musical form. Exciting original shows catering to music fans also started popping up in the 2000s – cult classics like Celebrity Deathmatch, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘n Out, and offbeat gems like Wonder Showzen.
But despite music videos persisting on MTV2 longer than they did on MTV, history repeated itself yet again for the sister station.
Gradually MTV2 phased out original programming and music blocks in favor of airing acquired shows from other ViacomCBS channels. No more music video savior or home for the weird and wacky. 😢
Today MTV2 operates purely as an MTV family rerun channel rather than an outlet for exclusive content. You‘ll find anything from Comedy Central stand up to CBS procedurals peppered between legacy MTV2 music programming blocks.
Perhaps someday MTV2 will recommit to its original mission as music video champion and hijinks hub. But for now, expect the familiar when tuning in.
The Takeaway: 40 Years Young & Still Evolving
While constantly reinventing itself over 40+ years on air, MTV still holds an outsized presence in youth entertainment thanks to shaping pop music and celebrity. Wherever the brand heads next into its fifth decade and beyond, MTV continues to drive culture – maybe just not always with music videos!
As we‘ve discovered though,Restore the music has become more of MTV‘s motto again lately. So cWho knows? Maybe the iconic Moon Man logo will once more preside over a channel playing nonstop music videos at some point down the road. 🤞
For now, Ridiculousness rules and The Challenge endures as MTV celebrates 40 years young in 2021. Not too shabby!
I don‘t know about you, but I‘m suddenly feeling some serious MTV nostalgia itching for a marathon viewing session. What classic show do you wish MTV still aired more of today? Let your friendly programming pal know in the comments!
