I saw MTV2 launch back in the day. It started with the Beck video “Where it’s at”
I saw the Comedy Channel(now Comedy Central) come on as well. It launched with some pathetic comedy with guys falling out of chairs and stuff.
What was the first stuff to play at other channels?
NBC was launched by a statuette of Mickey Mouse. The first actual network show was a World Series broadcast.
The original MTV launched with “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles.
Wasn’t 21 Jump Street the first show on Fox?
Channel 5 in England was launched with a one-off Spice Girls video.
Sadly, it didn’t get much better.
The first show on the SciFi network was an uncut showing of Star Wars, as I recall.
And the Disney Channel was opened by a stop motion animation of a mouse eared communications satellite (the work of special effects pioneer Mike Jitlov).
I remember SciFi Channel’s launch that way, too, Just Some Guy. Widescreen to boot, IIRC.
UPN launched with, IIRC, the two-hour premiere of Star Trek: Voyager.
–Cliffy
Sept. 7, 1979 – ESPN launches and the first program aired is the flagship show, SportsCenter, hosted by George Grande and Lee Leonard.
Wow this is really interesting. I didn’t remember Sci-Fi coming on the air. I do remember some of their really old commercials, though.
[bump]
Channel 4 in the UK started with Countdown. Rubbish then, rubbish now.
IIRC, VH1 started off with a Pat Benatar video.
IIRC MTV’s second video was a Pat Benatar video. The third was Rod Stewart.