Sucker Free
Encyclopedia
Sucker Free, known as Sucker Free Daily on weekdays and then Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays, is MTV2
's sole hip-hop video block. Previously, Sucker Free aired weekdays for one hour, then eventually sporadically until the week leading to February 28, 2010. Sucker Free Countdown, its 2 hour top 15 countdown, airs Sundays at 11AM ET/PT and 11PM ET/PT. Sucker Free originated from a block branding of hip-hop videos on MTV2 Sundays (called Sucker Free Sundays) in 2002, and eventually became the branding of MTV
's main hip-hop program weekdays from 2006 until 2008.
to teens in afternoons rather than video-branded programming, the series became a pre-taped program consisting mostly of videos and some viewer interaction, and the time slot was pushed back to early A.M. hours (first 10AM, then 8AM, then as early as 6:30AM) before the program's end in 2008.
A limited archive of Sucker Free Countdown can be seen on Sucker Frees web site on MTV.com.
In April 2008, the show became a subject of criticism by the Parents Television Council
, whose research report The Rap on Rap claimed that Sucker Free and BET
programs 106 & Park
and Rap City
were deliberately marketing adult content to minors. In response to the PTC's report, Procter & Gamble
proposed withdrawing advertising from BET and MTV. An executive for MTV responded:
Sucker Free Daily (SFD) debuted on 3/15/10. The Daily edition is only half an hour block of hip-hop videos and aired originally Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30AM ET/PT. MTV.com describes SFD as a half-hour music block of videos from Mondays-Thursday. SFD will have the most current hip-hop news stories in the MTV News Sucker Free News report, it will showcase the latest in fashion, cars, technology in our "On Some Other S***" segment, and it will provide the most current information in trending topics, upcoming music releases, and updates from the sports and Hollywood worlds via texted bumper segments.
As of March 21, 2010, Sucker Free Countdown is hosted by DJ Envy.
As of June 27, 2010, Sucker Free Countdown expanded to 2.5 hours and returned as a top 20 video countdown.
As of March 22, 2011, Sucker Free Daily moved to 8:30AM ET/PT Tuesdays-Fridays.
As of April 19, 2011, Sucker Free Daily moved back to 7:30AM ET / PT Tuesdays-Fridays.
As of June 26, 2011, Sucker Free Countdown returned to its previous 2-hour format and now only counts down 15 videos.
When MTV Tres re-launched in 2010 as Tr3s, SFL5 was not included in the new programming line-up and effectively cancelled.
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
's sole hip-hop video block. Previously, Sucker Free aired weekdays for one hour, then eventually sporadically until the week leading to February 28, 2010. Sucker Free Countdown, its 2 hour top 15 countdown, airs Sundays at 11AM ET/PT and 11PM ET/PT. Sucker Free originated from a block branding of hip-hop videos on MTV2 Sundays (called Sucker Free Sundays) in 2002, and eventually became the branding of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's main hip-hop program weekdays from 2006 until 2008.
History
Sucker Free debuted on May 29, 2006. Its previous moniker, Direct Effect, debuted on September 25, 2000, and was more robust in comparison to Scker Free. From its start, it was marketed and produced almost like a hip-hop version of TRL. However, as the network drifted away from music and began to promote general pseudo-reality programmingReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
to teens in afternoons rather than video-branded programming, the series became a pre-taped program consisting mostly of videos and some viewer interaction, and the time slot was pushed back to early A.M. hours (first 10AM, then 8AM, then as early as 6:30AM) before the program's end in 2008.
A limited archive of Sucker Free Countdown can be seen on Sucker Frees web site on MTV.com.
In April 2008, the show became a subject of criticism by the Parents Television Council
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
, whose research report The Rap on Rap claimed that Sucker Free and BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
programs 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
and Rap City
Rap City (TV series)
Rap City is a music video television program block aired on the Black Entertainment Television network. The program was an exclusive showcase for hip hop music videos, and features interviews with and freestyles from popular rappers, and often has guest DJs serve as co-hosts.-Conception:The show...
were deliberately marketing adult content to minors. In response to the PTC's report, Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
proposed withdrawing advertising from BET and MTV. An executive for MTV responded:
Sucker Free Daily (SFD) debuted on 3/15/10. The Daily edition is only half an hour block of hip-hop videos and aired originally Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30AM ET/PT. MTV.com describes SFD as a half-hour music block of videos from Mondays-Thursday. SFD will have the most current hip-hop news stories in the MTV News Sucker Free News report, it will showcase the latest in fashion, cars, technology in our "On Some Other S***" segment, and it will provide the most current information in trending topics, upcoming music releases, and updates from the sports and Hollywood worlds via texted bumper segments.
As of March 21, 2010, Sucker Free Countdown is hosted by DJ Envy.
As of June 27, 2010, Sucker Free Countdown expanded to 2.5 hours and returned as a top 20 video countdown.
As of March 22, 2011, Sucker Free Daily moved to 8:30AM ET/PT Tuesdays-Fridays.
As of April 19, 2011, Sucker Free Daily moved back to 7:30AM ET / PT Tuesdays-Fridays.
As of June 26, 2011, Sucker Free Countdown returned to its previous 2-hour format and now only counts down 15 videos.
Spin Off for MTV Tres
Sucker Free Latino debuted in 2006 on the Latino-oriented MTV network MTV Tres, which focuses mainly on Latino urban music. In 2009, the show was cut of its host and other familiar elements and aired as a top 5 countdown known as SFL 5. SFL 5 ran Tuesdays at 10PM ET/PT.When MTV Tres re-launched in 2010 as Tr3s, SFL5 was not included in the new programming line-up and effectively cancelled.