VH1 Classic

VH1 Classic

logo used from December 2007-present
Type	Digital cable/Satellite television network (Music)
Country	United States
Availability	United States
Slogan	Love your Idols, We do
Headquarters	New York City
Owner	MTV Networks (Viacom)
Launch date	May 8, 2000
Official website	http://www.vh1classic.com

VH1 Classic is a television network, launched in the United Kingdom on July 1, 1999 as two channels on one programming slot; "vh1 classic smooth" and "vh1 classic rock". The American sister network started on May 8, 2000. It is operated as part of MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom and primarily features music videos and concert footage from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, though it formerly included a wider range of genres and time periods. This channel is a sister channel to VH1.

The network originally played only videos but currently has a more varied line-up of music-themed programs. This includes themed compilation shows of music videos and concert footage, such as music videos focused on Heavy Metal music or on music of the 1980s, music documentaries such as the Classic Albums series, music themed movies, and full length concerts. They also rebroadcast programs first shown on the main VH1 channel, including Pop-Up Video and I Love the '80s.

Hosts of the network include Amy Scott, Eddie Trunk, Lynn Hoffman, and Mark Goodman.

List of VH1 Classic shows

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Original content

• That Metal Show - hosted by Eddie Trunk, is an hour long talk show that focuses on heavy metal music, both classic and current. Features guest appearances by notable heavy metal musicians, such as Lita Ford, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Geoff Tate, Peter Criss, and Yngwie Malmsteen.
• Hangin' with Encore - a music act spends time in VH1 Classic Studios and performs.

Video compilation shows

• VH1 Classic 120 Minutes - Formerly The Alternative. A block of classic alternative videos, modeled after the original MTV show 120 Minutes.
• (Classic) Rock Fest - Classic rock music videos from the 1960s through the early 1990s, including concert footage.
• Totally 80s - Broadcasts music videos exclusively from the 1980s. Previously known as We Are the '80s.
• Metal Mania - Classic hard rock and metal videos from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
• Class of... - Focuses on videos of a particular year.
• VH1 Classic's All-time Top Ten - Ranked order of videos focused around a single artist or theme.
• Pop-Up Video - The classic VH1 series with pop-up bubbles of information during videos.
• Top 20 Countdown - Ranked lists of videos according to a theme.
• VH1 Classic Current - An artist's classic hit songs, paired with new releases. No longer a show from 2009 onward.
• Box Set - A selection of music video clips spanning a band's career, with comments from the band and additional background information.
• Top 20 Flashback - The show that plays different videos from different decades. In 2007, the show plays the videos from the 70s, in 2008 it plays the videos from the 80s and in 2009 it plays the videos from the 90s.
• One Hit Wonders - A series devoted to videos of one-hit wonders.

Documentary and film series

• Classic Albums – Tells the story behind the making of some of the greatest albums of all time through interviews the artist and producers. Artists include Led Zeppelin, The Who, Phil Collins, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Judas Priest, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Bob Marley, Queen, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Rush, Metallica, Nirvana, Cream, John Lennon.
• History of Rock and Roll - Quincy Jones-produced miniseries that documents the rise of rock and roll.
• Seven Ages of Rock - documentary series that presents the history of Rock and Roll by focusing on specific genres set in their time, such as Punk rock or Rock.
• VH1 Rock Docs - rebroadcasts of music documentaries originally produced for other networks or for video (VHS or DVD) release.
• Heavy: The Story of Metal - four part documentary series focused on the history of heavy metal music.
• The Drug Years - four part documentary series focused on the history of drug use in American popular culture.
• Sex: The Revolution - four part documentary series focused on the history of the sexual culture in America from the 1950s to the present.
• Lords of the Revolution - five part documentary focused on men who have broke the boundaries of traditional American society such as Cheech and Chong and Andy Warhol.
• Rock & Roll Picture Show - VH1 Classic's movie umbrella title. Most of the films featured have some musical theme.
• Behind the music remastered- a documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the life of musicians such as: Heart, Meatloaf,John Lennon and Hall and Oates.

Full length concert series

• BBC Crown Jewels - A BBC acquisition vintage concert series, shows include Sight and Sound in Concert, In Concert,^{[disambiguation needed ]} The Old Grey Whistle Test, and Rock Goes To College.
• Classic In Concert - classic artists' concerts presented in their entirety, although some are edited from commercial DVD releases.
• VH1 Rock Honors - annual awards show and concert that airs on both VH1 and VH1 classic.

Rebroadcasts of other MTV or VH1 programs

• Club MTV - The classic Club MTV series that features dance music in New York City.
• I Love the '80s - Nostalgia series that features on music and culture from the 1980s. Had two sequel series, and several spinoffs that focus on music and culture of the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s.
• I Love the '70s: Volume 2 - Nostalgia series that features on music and culture from the 1970s.
• Yo! MTV Raps - The classic MTV Raps series that produced lively mix of rap videos, interviews with rap stars, live in studio performances and comedy.

Annual shows and specials

• VH1 Classic Thanksgiving - Each year, VH1 Classic honors its viewers by inviting their favorite classic artists to join the VH1 staff for a Thanksgiving dinner. There was also a similar show which was done for Passover. Last edition aired in 2007.

• All Roads Lead to Sturgis - An annual VH1 Classic show that spotlights the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

• Metal Month - In May 2006, VH1 classic, with some help from VH1, focused on Heavy metal. The month saw the premieres of the Top 40 metal songs, Heavy: The Story of Metal, and VH1 Rock Honors.

• First day of MTV - On August 1, 2006, VH1 Classic re-created the first day of MTV in honor of the network's 25th anniversary. VH1 Classic showed the videos and short clips of other linking material from that day, as well as various other videos from MTV's early years. * On July 30 thru August 1st, 2011, they also re-created the first day of MTV in honor of the network's 30th anniversary.

• Hall of Fame weekend block - During the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions in 2006, VH1 Classic dedicated the entire weekend to current Rockhall members. Artists included either true members like Eric Clapton or related non-members like Derek and the Dominos.

• 80 Hours of the '80s - Aired over Labor Day Weekend 2008. Featured music videos from the 1980s in alphabetical order by artist (last name or the name of the group). Goodman served as host. Some clips from his days at MTV were shown.

• 2009 for 2009 - Aired 2009 Music Videos Starting at Midnight on New Years Day 2009, and continued until January 18. Videos are placed in Alphabetical Order of the Songs name. 2010 for 2010 was scheduled to air for 3 weeks but was scrapped the morning of December 31 without reason although cable programmers had the countdown listed to be aired as late as 11:45 PM EST.

• 8 days of The 80's - Aired as a kick off to their Summer Rock Series. For the first 4 days, they aired 80 hours of 80s Song in Alphabetical Order.

• Rushashonna - 24 Hours of Rush music is aired including concerts, videos, and interviews. It aired in 2008 and 2010, but was skipped in 2009.

Syndicated Series

• Saturday Night Live

Past shows

• All Star Jams - Well-known songs and artists.

• Morning Video Block - Wake up to well-known classic songs and artists. Similar to the old show All-Star Jams. Discontinued November 2011 in favor of reruns.

• The 60's Generation - 1960s block.

• The Super Seventies - An hour long program which aired videos and performances from artists of the 1970s. The clips shown were not genre-specific. It was replaced in 2006 by 70s A to Z.

• 70s A to Z - 1970s block. Replaced The Super Seventies in 2006.

• VH1 Classic Soul - R&B from the 1950s through the 1990s.

• Pop Show - Pop hits & stars.

• The Vault - Similar to All Star Jams, but with lesser known songs and artists.

• All Request Hour - Viewer Requests by email. The show debuted in 2002. As of April 2007, it is no longer on regular rotation.

• Tuesday Twoplay - Weekly block featuring back-to-back songs from various artists.

• You Can't Stop Hip Hop - Hip hop videos from the 1980s.

• Hip Hop Honors - Hip hop videos from the 1980s.

• Classic Jukebox - A semi-annual show where celebrity guests are allowed to pick any video they want to see.

• Headline Act - Features videos and interviews from a single artist. Usually a half hour in length, it has occasionally been expanded to an hour

• Turn Tables - A segment where VH1 Classic veejays discuss a particular music topic.

• Decades Rock Live - Concerts celebrating long-time famous acts with today's acts.

International channels

• VH1 Classic UK was a British channel based on the same format as the US one, and was on air from July 1, 1999 - March 1, 2010, when it was rebranded as MTV Classic.
• VH1 Classic European is an English language station broadcasting to Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy (only on Alice Home TV), Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Sweden, and Ukraine. This version has been launched on the 1st of December 2005. Previously, the UK version was shown. Both these channels are operated by MTV Networks Europe in Warsaw.
• VH1 Classic Brazil is the brazilian version for VH1 Classic and was released in 2010.

External links

• Official website
• Classic Rock on VH1