VH1 Classic (European TV channel)
VH1 Classic is a European music television channel from ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA. The channel primarily features music videos from the 1980s through to the 2000s (decade), although rare live performances from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s can be seen as well. VH1 Classic was first launched in the United Kingdom on 1 July 1999 and made available from the beginning to the whole of Europe.[1] However, the current pan-European service was launched in 30 November 2004, when it became a separate feed from VH1 Classic UK.[2] Like VH1 European, it broadcast from MTV Networks Europe's premises in Camden Town (London, UK). It is officially available to viewers all over Europe and Latin America (except the UK & Ireland and Italy). Unlike VH1 Classic UK, the pan-European version of the channel is entirely devoid of advertisements, with round-the-clock music videos played out from MTV Networks Europe's comprehensive library in London.
VH1 Classic | |
---|---|
Launched | 30 November 2004 |
Closed | 5 October 2020 |
Network | MTV |
Owned by | ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA |
Picture format | 576i (4:3 SDTV) |
Slogan | Absolutely none of today's hottest new music. |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | Europe |
Replaced by | MTV 80s |
Sister channel(s) | MTV Club MTV MTV Hits MTV Live MTV Music MTV Rocks VH1 MTV 90s |
Availability | |
Satellite | |
Canal Digitaal (Netherlands) | Channel 95 |
Cable | |
Ziggo (Netherlands) | Channel 607 |
Caiway (Netherlands) | Channel 128 |
CAI Harderwijk (Netherlands) | Channel 96 |
Kabel Noord (Netherlands) | Channel 353 |
Kabeltex (Netherlands) | Channel 226 |
Vodafone TV (Spain) | Channel 187 |
DELTA (Netherlands) | Channel 209 |
UPC (Switzerland) | Channel 254 |
Naxoo (Switzerland) | Channel 180 |
Nowo (Portugal) | Channel 89 |
Inter (Venezuela) | Channel 108 |
Claro TV | Channel 164 (Colombia) Channel 89 (Peru) |
IPTV | |
Proximus TV (Belgium) | Channel 152 |
T-Mobile Netherlands | Channel 234 |
Tele2 Netherlands | Channel 219 |
Solcon (Netherlands) | Channel 234 |
Fiber Netherlands | Channel 234 |
Free (France) | Channel 280 |
Streaming media | |
Ziggo GO (Netherlands) | ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only) |
Attempts to transition VH1 Classic to widescreen
Like the now-defunct Italian feed of MTV Classic, VH1 Classic airs in 4:3 standard definition aspect ratio. There were a very few attempts to transition this channel to widescreen, but they were failed due to several technical issues.
The first widescreen transition attempt happened on 19 August 2015 at 7:00AM CET, which caused VH1 Classic to have severe technical issues for a minute, then it went widescreen temporarily until 7:45AM CET, which the music video was abruptly changed to "The Sweet Escape" by Gwen Stefani and reverted to 4:3.[3] The recent widescreen transition attempt happened on 9 February 2016 at 7:00AM CET, when a fragment of the music video of the song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith played, but it abruptly shifted to the on-air ident instead, which also failed.[4]
The channel will close along with the European version of MTV Rocks in October 2020 and be replaced by MTV 80s. MTV 80s was first launch in February 28, 2020 in the UK & Ireland as a temporary rebranding of MTV Classic until March 31, 2020.[5] An MTV 80s channel already operates in New Zealand via Sky.
Regular programming on VH1 Classic
- Keep It Classic - Music on weekday afternoons.
- Nothing But The 00s - Music from the noughties.
- Smells Like The 90s - Music from the nineties.
- MTV 80s Takeover - Music from the eighties.
External links
References
- Iain Chapman (July 1, 1999). "New MTV Channels start today". Digital Spy.
- "MTV Networks Europe Fact Sheet" (PDF). MTV Networks Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- Brand Graffismo (2015-10-10), VH1 Classic | Technical problems, goes to 16:9 (2015)., retrieved 2017-06-24
- Luis (2016-02-11), VH1 Classic Europe 16:9 Test (09.02.2016) [07:00 CET], retrieved 2017-06-23
- "MTV Rocks and Club MTV close in UK and Coming Soon Rebranding MTV 90s and 80s changes in Europe…". greekdigitaltv.blogspot.com.