VH1 (stylized as Vl+1, sometimes as VH-1 and originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American cable television network based in New York City that is owned by Viacom Music and Entertainment Group, a unit of the Viacom Media Networks division of Viacom. It launched on January 1, 1985, in the old space of Turner Broadcasting System's short-lived Cable Music Channel. The original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly older demographic than its sister channel, focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music.

The channel was originally created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owner of MTV. Both VH1 and its sister channel MTV are a part of Viacom Media Networks. While VH1 has played music videos in the past, its recent claim to fame has been in the area of music-related reality programming, such as Behind the Music, the I Love… series, the Celebreality block of programming, and the channel's overall focus on popular culture. As of December 2015, VH1 no longer plays music videos.

VH1 Latin America is a music channel from Viacom-owned Viacom International Media Networks The Americas. The network was launched in April 2004 exclusively on Cablevisión D.F. in Mexico, and in the rest of the region some months later. The channel targets audience from 19 to 44 years old and plays local and international music videos from the 1970s to the 2000s. It also airs famous countdowns from VH1 United States. It reaches most of the satellite and cable systems in Latin America. VH1 Soul, another channel of MTV Networks and sister channel of VH1 is also available in the region.

On April 27, 2009 the channel launched a new image, with new idents, bumpers and new colors for the logo. The new identity was called "look & feel" and represents the beginnings of color television.

On April 29, 2013 the channel began to use the current logos and idents used by its parent channel.

History

The channel was launched on April 1, 2004 only on Cablevisión in Mexico. Eventually, it started reaching other countries, and as of 2006 it is available in most of the countries of Latin America.

VH1 is a specialist music television channel from Viacom International Media Networks Europe. The channel broadcasts to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel is based on the original VH1 American channel of the same name. The channel launched across Europe on 10 October 1994. As of late 2010 and early 2011, VH1 no longer airs promos for its own programming but instead cross-promotes sister channels such as MTV and MTV Music.

History

VH1 was launched in 1994 as VH-1/an alternative to the youth-orientated MTV.

The channel targets an audience between 25 to 44 year olds, VH1 aims to be "mature, sophisticated and totally stylish for viewers who still feel young and want to keep in-touch with what is happening on the music scene today." The music they play consists of music from the 1970s right through to today.

Until 2008, much of their programming was taken from the American version. The channel now focuses entirely on music videos, with many Top 20 and Top 40 countdowns.