OVER THE YEARS

OVER THE YEARS
Notable developments
1981
MTV U.S. begins Aug. 1. The first video is "Video Killed the Radio Star," by The Buggles.
1984
By now MTV had changed the music industry and most artists were making videos, so it was time to launch "MTV Video Music Awards."
1987
MTV Europe starts Aug. 1. Elton John launches the channel from the Roxy Club in Amsterdam. The first video is "Money for Nothing," by Dire Straits.
1989
The first "MTV Unplugged" is taped in October with Squeeze and Syd Straw and airs in 1990.
1990
MTV Brazil begins.
1991
MTV Asia and MTV Japan get on the air.
1992
MTV U.S. launches a soap opera: "The Real World." It's a true story of seven people living in a house. The first series consists of 13 episodes that take place in a New York apartment. The Oscars get a youthful counterpart: "The MTV Movie Awards."
1993
MTV Latin is launched. Animated "Beavis and Butt-head" causes mayhem and soon becomes a cult hit.
1994
MTV Europe starts its own music awards: "The MTV Europe Music Awards." MTV U.S. launches a "Real World" spin-off: "Road Rules."
1995
"Singled Out" debuts on MTV U.S. and becomes a hit dating show.
1996
MTV's "Turned On Europe" bus sets off on a tour of the continent, gathering real-life stories. MTV New Zealand goes on the air.
1997
MTV Europe goes local with the launch of MTV Central (also known as MTV Germany), MTV UK & amp; Ireland and MTV Italy (also known as MTV Southern). MTV Australia also goes on the air.
1998
MTV Europe continues its local expansion with MTV Nordic (for the Scandinavian countries). MTV U.S. lets stars battle it out in the ring-in-the-clay series "Celebrity Death Match." M2 Europe (rock and alternative music) begins.
1999
MTV Korea begins. MTV Europe launches MTV BASE (hip-hop, urban and R & amp;B) and MTV EXTRA (classical moments of MTV Europe).
2000
MTV Europe relaunches M2 Europe as MTV2 Europe. MTV Europe's local plans get into overdrive with the launch of MTV Poland and MTV Spain.
2001
MTV U.S. stops broadcasting for 18 hours Jan. 10 to protest discrimination. MTV DANCE begins. MTV acquires The Music Factory, its biggest competition in The Netherlands and parts of Belgium.