VH1 Classic to rebrand to MTV Classic

[KyL416]

VH1 Classic will rebrand to MTV Classic on August 1st

[KyL416]

The new description and logo

"MTV Classic features MTV's greatest hits from the 80s, 90s and early 00s. From Unplugged to Beavis and Butthead to The Real World, MTV Classic pulls together years of MTV's most memorable shows, characters, and iconic musical performances, all under one roof. In addition to the best of MTV's shows, MTV Classic will also regularly deliver the first rate movies, as well as your favorite music videos from the past.

• Programming on MTV Classic will remain largely consistent with what is on the channel today - but with more classic MTV music and entertainment programming infused as time goes on.

• The music video blocks and music focused movies will remain on the channel.

• MTV Classic will bring back select episodes of iconic MTV franchises like Unplugged, 120 minutes, Yo MTV Raps, Beavis and Butthead, and other fan-favorites.

• Looking ahead, the long term programming plan is to refresh and also invest in creating new episodes of some of the most iconic music franchises like 120 minutes, Yo MTV Raps, and Headbangers Ball – presented with a new look and feel that will resonate strongly with today's audience. "

[KyL416]

They updated the logo, and it's going to relaunch on the 35th anniversary of MTV with the first hour of MTV as it aired in 1981. (Complete with the technical glitches as they changed tapes)

[KyL416]

The full schedule isn't out yet, but one really rare thing on it...Aeon Flux

[KyL416]

They started running promos, voiced by Matt Pinfield:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzS1Hk-sLs

[KyL416]

They updated the schedule, here are the new names for the blocks:
Metal Mania -> Headbangers
Rock Fest -> Rock Block
Totally 80's -> I Want My 80s
90s Rocked -> 90s Nation
Morning Video Block -> MTV Classic Videos
VH1 Classic 120 Minutes -> 120 Minutes

And they're adding the following blocks:
YO! Hip Hop Mix
House Of Pop
Total Request Playlist

[KyL416]

They just had a test run this morning, the first few videos on the morning video block aired with the MTV Classic logo and texts

[KyL416]

INTRODUCING MTV CLASSIC

​REBRANDED NETWORK FEATURES THROWBACK MTV LINEUP INCLUDING "UNPLUGGED," "DARIA," "CRIBS," "JACKASS," "PIMP MY RIDE," "THE REAL WORLD," "BEAVIS & BUTT-HEAD," "LAGUNA BEACH," "AEON FLUX" AND MORE

New York, NY – July 28, 2016 – MTV today announced it will rebrand VH1 Classic as MTV CLASSIC. MTV Classic will feature an eclectic mix of fan-favorite MTV series and music programming drawn from across its rich history, with a special focus on the 1990s and early 2000s. The rebrand takes effect on Monday, August 1 – 35 years to the day that MTV first debuted – at 6:00 a.m. when MTV Classic will air "MTV Hour One," MTV's first hour of programming from 1981.

"From 'Beavis & Butt-head' to 'Laguna Beach,' MTV's programming vault is a music and pop culture goldmine with universal resonance," said Sean Atkins, President of MTV.  "MTV Classic gives audiences a modern and artful home for classic MTV programming and — alongside MTV, MTV2, MTV Live and mtvU — rounds out a diverse portfolio with music and youth culture at its core."

On Monday, August 1st, MTV Classic will again re-air "MTV Hour One" at 12:00 p.m. ET before airing the "Total Request Live" retrospective "The TRL Decade." Following will be a marathon of some of the most memorable episodes of "MTV Unplugged" – many of which haven't aired in years –  including artists Bob Dylan, Alice In Chains, Erykah Badu, Oasis, Neil Young, Nirvana and more, that will lead into a primetime animated programming block including "Daria," "Beavis & Butt-head" and "Aeon Flux." "MTV Hour One" will also air on MTV's Facebook page via Facebook Live.

At launch, the network will feature primetime "from the vault" programming blocks Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. that will include series such as "Daria," "Beavis & Butt-head," "Aeon Flux," "Run's House," "Pimp My Ride," "Cribs," "Jackass," "Punk'd," "Wonder Showzen," "Clone High" and more. Every Friday, MTV Classic will feature classic music series in primetime including "MTV Unplugged," "Storytellers," live music performances and more. On the weekends, the network will serve up binge-worthy marathons of fan favorites including full seasons of "The Real World," "Laguna Beach," "Road Rules" and more.

Additionally, MTV Classic will continue to run movies, concerts and music videos from the past that speak to the last three decades of music.

[KyL416]

They clearly edited some of the first hour, it was missing several ads like the Superman trailer and the Trapper Keeper ad. It seems outside of the Mountain Dew ad, they cut out all the ads except for the products that no longer exist like Atari and Chewels gum.

Several videos like the REO Speedwagon video were replaced with a more recent copy. (You can tell since it had the late 80s/90s style lower left text)

[KyL416]

Small update, "Headbangers" is back to "Metal Mania"

Also if you haven't watched the video blocks, you should check them out. They are really dipping into MTV's library and airing a lot more than just the biggest hits each artist had like VH1 Classic did. (i.e. more Savage Garden videos than I Want You, more Belinda Carlisle videos than just Heaven is a Place on Earth, more Third Eye Blind videos than just Semi-Charmed Life, more Prince videos than just Kiss, 1999 and When Doves Cry, the full MTV version of Billy Joel's Uptown Girl, the Toni Braxton video that features VR Trooper's Mike Hollander, etc)

Also contrary to what the media coverage is giving, the channel is NOT only 90s MTV.

[KyL416]

Starting January 3rd, the themed video blocks move up to 5am on weekdays and takesover the  "MTV Classic Videos" slots, a new "Music Video Lunch Break" block will air between noon-2pm.

EDIT: Something else may be in the works starting that day. Hopefully they clarify it sooner than later....

[KyL416]

So I hear you like videos. How would you like them 24/7? How about "MTV Classic Videos" between 3am-9am and the genres in 6 hour back to back blocks the rest of the day?

Outside of a Cribs marathon between 12am-4am this Sunday night, MTV Classic will be 24/7 Music Videos starting tonight at midnight.

[KyL416]

They mix the blocks up starting next week, as well as shorten the blocks on Saturdays and Sundays to bring back 120 minutes and reduce Metal Mayhem to one airing:

MTV Classic Videos - Everyday 3am-9am
I Want My 80s - Mondays 9am-3pm, Fridays 3pm-9pm, Saturdays 9pm-3am, Sundays 9am-1pm
90s Nation - Mondays 3pm-9pm, Thursdays 9pm-3am, Fridays 9am-3pm, Saturdays 5pm-9pm, Sundays 1pm-5pm
Total Request Playlist - Mondays 9pm-3am, Wednesdays 3pm-9pm, Saturdays 9am-1pm
House of Pop - Tuesdays 9am-3pm, Wednesdays 9pm-3am, Thursdays 3pm-9pm, Sundays 5pm-9pm
Rock Block - Tuesdays 3pm-9pm, Thursdays 9am-3pm, Sundays 9pm-1am
YO! Hip Hop Mix - Tuesdays 9pm-3am, Wednesdays 9am-3pm, Saturdays 1pm-5pm
Metal Mayhem - Fridays 9pm-3am
120 Minutes - Sundays 1am-3am

[KyL416]

Classic-ish Videos: Nirvana will air tonight at 10pm ET/PT for what would have been Kurt's 50th birthday.