MTV Italy
Encyclopedia
MTV Italy is the Italian speaking version of the popular 24 hour music and youth entertainment channel. Unlike its counterparts elsewhere in Europe, MTV Italia is a national channel available free-to-air
on terrestrial television since September 1, 1997 and available on digital terrestrial television since September 14, 2009, making it one of three versions of MTV available in free-to-air
terrestrial television
. (The other being MTV Brasil
and from September 2010 MTV Spain
)
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
on terrestrial television since September 1, 1997 and available on digital terrestrial television since September 14, 2009, making it one of three versions of MTV available in free-to-air
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
terrestrial television
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
. (The other being MTV Brasil
MTV Brasil
MTV Brasil is the Brazilian version of MTV, owned by Abril Mídia, the nation's largest magazine publisher, under license from Viacom - owned MTV Networks Latin AmericaMTV Brasil is one of two versions of MTV available in free-to-air terrestrial television...
and from September 2010 MTV Spain
MTV Spain
MTV España is the Spanish-speaking version of the popular 24-hour music and youth entertainment channel. MTV España is available on digital satellite Pay-TV offer Digital+, IPTV , many cable networks and from September 2010 on digital terrestrial television .-History:* MTV España was launched in...
)
History
- Prior to the launch of a 24 hour Italian speaking MTV, MTV viewers in Italy received the pan-European version of MTVMTV EuropeMTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
.
- Regionalization of MTV in Europe began in March 1997 with the launch a German speaking MTVMTV CentralMTV Germany, is a 24- hour German speaking entertainment channel operated by MTV Networks Europe. The channel was launched as MTV Networks Europe began to localize its brand throughout Europe in 1997. MTV Germany was launched on March 7, 1997...
, followed by a UK branded channel in July of the same year. Following on from the Italian channel which officially launched in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on September 1, 1997, the day when its transmissions entered into the TV programmings of Rete A.
- On May 1, 2001, after having been acquired by Telecom Italia MediaTelecom Italia MediaTelecom Italia Media is an Italian commercial television network, founded in Rome, Italy by Seat Pagine Gialle in 2003 and later acquired by Telecom Italia and listed on Italian Stock Exchange.-Overview:...
, MTV Italia moved to the frequencies of the late TMC2 (formerly known as VideomusicVideomusicVideomusic was an Italian music channel and one of the first music channels in Europe. It was founded by Marialina Marcucci and Pier Luigi Stefani in early 1984. The channel used to be broadcast from a location called "Il Ciocco", near the Castelvecchio Pascoli, Frazione of Barga in the province...
) thus becoming a standalone channel and getting more and more like every other "big" network in Italy, showing news, movie trailers and other things which would never have fit into the former schedules of the channel. The handover and the whole changing process was advertised with the name of "MTV Regeneration".
- In early 2002 the channel moved from London to Milan.
- MTV Italia is currently controlled by Telecom Italia Media (51%) and ViacomViacomViacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
(49%), and its main offices are located in MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Several shows are made up locally, featuring Italian music and artists. Some of the most popular shows on the channel are the Italian version of Total Request LiveTRL ItalyTotal Request Live was the Italian version of the American show of the same name that originated in 1999. Originally broadcast weekdays at 2.00 p.m., its time slot was changed as it ran into its second season. It was broadcast at 3.00 p.m...
, LoveLineLovelineLoveline is a syndicated radio call-in program in North America, offering medical and relationship advice to listeners, often with the assistance of guests, typically actors and musicians. Its flagship station is KROQ-FM in Los Angeles....
, Brand NewMTV Brand NewMTV Brand:New is a 24 hour specialist music channel featuring the very best in new music videos, alternative and indie music available in the Netherlands and Germany. An Italian version of the channel launched in Italy on September 14, 2003, it also launched in the Netherlands on August 1, 2006...
, other are ariginals like Very Victoria, Italo-Francese, Avere Ventanni and Hitlist Italia.
- MTV Italia also shows a variety of reality shows (mainly imported from MTV US) and TV series such as ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, Less Than PerfectLess Than PerfectLess Than Perfect is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. The show was about a young female office employee and her co-workers...
and The OfficeThe Office (UK TV series)The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
. Since 1999, the channel has shown several Japanese anime on a regular basis.
- However, the best music videos and programs are mainly shown through the night, as in the old MTV EuropeMTV EuropeMTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
days. Several classic shows are still on after many years: Chill Out ZoneChill Out ZoneThe Chill Out Zone is a long running show on MTV Europe that plays new and old ambient music including laidback house, trip hop, chillout trance. It's on every Sunday between 03:00 and 05.00 a.m. CET. The first edition of Chill Out Zone aired in 1993...
, Party ZoneParty ZoneParty Zone is MTV Europe's longest-running show, born not only when MTV Europe started but also when club culture was at its embryonic stage. Partyzone plays a mix of new and old tracks from many different genres of dance music, including garage, house, techno, electronic, trance and drum and bass...
, Superock, Yo! among others.
- Main Italian hosts for MTV Italia are Victoria CabelloVictoria CabelloVictoria Cabello is an Italian television presenter.One of MTV Italia's original veejays , she used to host Select MTV from London...
, Alessandro CattelanAlessandro CattelanAlessandro Cattelan is an Italian television personality known for presenting TRL Italy, the Italian version of Total Request Live broadcast by MTV Italia, and Le Iene, broadcast by Mediaset’s Italia 1.-External links:*...
, Carlo Pastore, and Elena Santarelli. Some of the former hosts of the channel are Andrea Pezzi, Camila Raznovich and Enrico Silvestrin (who are both also former MTV EuropeMTV EuropeMTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
vjs), Kris Grove, Kris Reichert, Giorgia SurinaGiorgia SurinaGiorgia Surina is an Italian television personality known for presenting TRL Italy, the Italian version of Total Request Live broadcast by MTV Italia. She has also starred in some movies, like Una talpa al bioparco and the TV series RIS Delitti Imperfetti and Love Bugs third series.-External links:...
, Marco MaccariniMarco MaccariniMarco Maccarini is an Italian television personality known for presenting TRL Italy, the Italian version of Total Request Live broadcast by MTV Italia, and Festivalbar, broadcast by Mediaset’s Italia 1.-External links:...
, Paola Maugeri, and Daniele Bossari.
Digital Channels
- In the Summer of 2003 MTV Italia launched two satellite channels: MTV Hits ItaliaMTV HitsMTV Hits is an American music video channel that debuted on May 1, 2002. The format of the network resembles that of the classic MTV before the additional of other programming to that network in the 1990s and their slow decline of music video programming...
, mainly dedicated to showing chart hits and classic clips from the MTV archives and MTV Brand NewMTV Brand NewMTV Brand:New is a 24 hour specialist music channel featuring the very best in new music videos, alternative and indie music available in the Netherlands and Germany. An Italian version of the channel launched in Italy on September 14, 2003, it also launched in the Netherlands on August 1, 2006...
, devoted to showing all the best cutting-edge, indie, electronic, metal, experimental music out there. In 2006, a fourth channel was launched: Flux, now known as QOOBQOOBQOOB was an Italian television channel owned by MTV Italy, launched in 2005 and permanently closed in 2009.- Content :Was launched in November 2005 as Your Open Source on Telecom Italia Media analogue television frequencies....
, creating a whole new concept of television consisting of showing eclectic / alternative music videos 24/7 along with some artistic footages sent in by the viewers through the channel's website and other bits taken from the MTV2 US programming.
- On November 30 the Italian version of Flux, was rebranded into QOOBQOOBQOOB was an Italian television channel owned by MTV Italy, launched in 2005 and permanently closed in 2009.- Content :Was launched in November 2005 as Your Open Source on Telecom Italia Media analogue television frequencies....
and on April an international website was launched. QOOBQOOBQOOB was an Italian television channel owned by MTV Italy, launched in 2005 and permanently closed in 2009.- Content :Was launched in November 2005 as Your Open Source on Telecom Italia Media analogue television frequencies....
shows no commercials at all and is distributed through DVB-TDVB-TDVB-T is an abbreviation for Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial; it is the DVB European-based consortium standard for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television that was first published in 1997 and first broadcast in the UK in 1998...
in Italy. On the 1st of October 2007, two new satellite channels were born: - MTV Gold (hosting music from the 70s 80s and 90s)
- MTV Pulse (for commercial music)
- VH1 (a local version broadcast from London)
- On January 10, 2011 MTV Networks Italia rebranded its channels. MTV Italia continued to air a mix of music and reality tv based content. MTV Pulse and MTV Brand NewMTV Brand NewMTV Brand:New is a 24 hour specialist music channel featuring the very best in new music videos, alternative and indie music available in the Netherlands and Germany. An Italian version of the channel launched in Italy on September 14, 2003, it also launched in the Netherlands on August 1, 2006...
were closed down and replaced by the pan-European versions of MTV DanceMTV DanceMTV Dance is a 24-hour dance music channel operated by MTV Networks Europe.The channel is widely available throughout Europe on subscription satellite and digital television services...
and MTV Rocks. MTV Networks Italia rebranded MTV Gold as MTV Classic and MTV HitsMTV HitsMTV Hits is an American music video channel that debuted on May 1, 2002. The format of the network resembles that of the classic MTV before the additional of other programming to that network in the 1990s and their slow decline of music video programming...
was rebranded on air and went live at a 16:9 perspective.
- MTV Music was launched in Italy in May 2010May 2010May 2010 was the fifth month of that year. It began on a Saturday and ended after 31 days on a Monday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from May 2010....
as MTV+MTV+MTV Plus is a digital entertainment television channel available in Greece and an Italian version also aired until it was replaced with MTV Music on March 1, 2011.-MTV Plus in Greece:The channel was launched in Greece on October 18, 2009...
and was so rebranded under a new branding strategy by MTV Networks International MTV+ on March 1, 2011. This channel is exclusive to the digital terrestrial television network available in the majority of Italian homes. Unlike its former channel MTV Music will only play music content unlike MTV+ which had a selection of music and content largely from MTV US.