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| name = VH1
| name = VH1
| logo = VH1 logo.svg
| logo = VH1 logo.svg
| logo_caption = The VH1 Logo used since 2016, with the wordmark used since 2012
| logo_caption = The VH1 Logo used since 2016, with the wordmark used since 2013
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1985|1|1}}
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1985|1|1}}
| owner = [[Paramount Global]]
| owner = [[Paramount Global]]
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}}
}}


'''VH1''' (originally an [[initialism]] for '''Video Hits One''') is an American [[basic cable|Basic Cable]] television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the [[BET Networks|BET Media Group]] subsidiary of [[Paramount Global]]'s [[CBS Entertainment Group]] based in [[New York City]]. The network was originally owned by [[Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment]]; a division of [[Warner Communications]], and the original owner of then-sister channel [[MTV]] at the time. It was launched in the channel space of [[Turner Broadcasting System]] short-lived [[Cable Music Channel]].
'''VH1''' (originally an [[initialism]] for '''Video Hits One''') is an American [[basic cable]] television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the [[BET Networks|BET Media Group]] subsidiary of [[Paramount Global]]'s [[CBS Entertainment Group]] based in [[New York City]]. The network was originally owned by [[Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment]]; a division of [[Warner Communications]], and the original owner of then-sister channel [[MTV]] at the time. It was launched in the channel space of [[Turner Broadcasting System]]'s short-lived [[Cable Music Channel]].


VH1 was originally conceived to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos targeting a slightly older demographic focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music.<ref name="launsch">{{Cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Rick |date=October 5, 1984 |title=VH-1 wants adult video viewers |page=11 |work=Spokane Chronicle |agency=(New York Times) |location=(Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=11xOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5661%2C1204403}}</ref> Like MTV, VH1 ultimately [[channel drift|drifted away]] from music and into [[reality television]] programming; albeit with a focus on music personalities, celebrities, and shows targeting [[African-American]] audiences. VH1 is best known for franchises such as ''[[Behind the Music]]'', the ''[[I Love...#VH1 series|I Love…]]'' series, the ''[[#Celebreality|Celebreality]]'' block, ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'', and ''[[Basketball Wives]]''.
VH1 was originally conceived to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos targeting a slightly older demographic focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music.<ref name="launsch">{{Cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Rick |date=October 5, 1984 |title=VH-1 wants adult video viewers |page=11 |work=Spokane Chronicle |agency=(New York Times) |location=(Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=11xOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5661%2C1204403}}</ref> Like MTV, VH1 ultimately [[channel drift|drifted away]] from music and into [[reality television]] programming; albeit with a focus on music personalities, celebrities, and shows targeting [[African-American]] audiences. VH1 is best known for franchises such as ''[[Behind the Music]]'', the ''[[I Love...#VH1 series|I Love…]]'' series, the ''[[#Celebreality|Celebreality]]'' block, ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'', and ''[[Basketball Wives]]''.
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== History ==
== History ==
{{main|History of VH1}}
{{MTV}}
{{MTV}}
VH1, an acronym for '''Video Hits One''', launched on January 1, 1985 over the channel space of [[Turner Broadcasting System|Turner]]'s [[Cable Music Channel]].<ref name="worldradio">{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=June 25, 1984|title=Warner takes MTV, Nickelodeon public|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-06-25-OCR-Page-0058.pdf#search=%22mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/19/business/business-people-a-chief-is-named-by-mtv-networks.html |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=July 19, 1985 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 1, 2014}}</ref> The channel originally focused on music and programming aimed at older audiences than its sibling channel at the time, [[MTV]].<ref name="b and c">{{Cite news |last=Becker |first=Anne |date=May 3, 2009 |title=VH1 Hits a New High Note |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6557244.html?rssid=193 |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103185115/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6557244.html?rssid=193 |archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref>


On August 27, 1985, parent company [[Warner Communications]] sold 31% of VH1 and its siblings (MTV and [[Nickelodeon]]; which were already divested by Warner into [[MTV Networks]]) to [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=August 27, 1985|title=Viacom to Buy Warner Stake In Cable Units|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/08/27/viacom-to-buy-warner-stake-in-cable-units/f9a17068-093d-4d39-be78-e7b0a0724ac4/|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 2, 1985|title=Viacom gets its MTV (page 50)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-09-02.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> Viacom would eventually buy the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $326 million on May 20, 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=1986-09-17|title=VIACOM CHIEF LEADS GROUP'S BUYOUT BID (Published 1986)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/17/business/viacom-chief-leads-group-s-buyout-bid.html|access-date=2021-01-23|issn=0362-4331|quote=In November 1985, Viacom acquired MTV Networks for $326 million in cash and warrants. One-third of MTV was publicly owned; the rest was owned by Warner Communications and the American Express Company. At the same time, Viacom bought 50 percent of Showtime, the pay television service, that it did not already own for $184 million.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=May 20, 1986|title=Viacom has bought MTV and Showtime/TMC|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-05-26-OCR-Page-0045.pdf#search=%22viacom%20mtv%20networks%22|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc.|via=World Radio History|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> By 1989, VH1's music programming would cater to Top 40, [[adult contemporary]], [[classic rock]], and 1980s mainstream pop.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/4NPYAxnuVgc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023805/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NPYAxnuVgc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=October 27, 2011 |title=1991 VH1 Commercials |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NPYAxnuVgc |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During the 1990s, VH1 would gain popularity for original music-related programs such as ''[[Pop-Up Video]]'' and ''[[Behind the Music]]''.
=== Early history (1985–1994) ===
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
{{Tone|section|date=May 2024}}
{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2024}}
}}
==== Format and VJs (1985–89) ====
[[File:VH-1.svg|thumb|150px|right|The first VH1 logo used from 1985 to 1987 in the USA; between 1995 and 2002 in Germany and 1993–1999 in the UK and Ireland. Designed by LPG/Pon, Dale Pon and George Lois.]]
[[File:Vh1.svg|thumb|150px|right|The second VH1 logo used from 1987 to 1994. Designed by Scott Miller. During the Christmas season the "V" would be flipped upside down to resemble a Christmas tree. This was a rare logo. Also, it is an alternate logo.]]

VH1's aim was to focus on the lighter, softer side of [[popular music]],<ref name="b and c">{{Cite news |last=Becker |first=Anne |date=May 3, 2009 |title=VH1 Hits a New High Note |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6557244.html?rssid=193 |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103185115/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6557244.html?rssid=193 |archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref> including American and foreign musicians such as [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[Carly Simon]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Elton John]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Donna Summer]], [[Rod Stewart]], [[Kenny G]], [[Michael Bolton]], [[Anita Baker]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], and [[Fleetwood Mac]], in hopes of appealing to people aged 18 to 35, and possibly older. Also frequently featured in the network's early years were "videos" for [[Motown Records|Motown]] and other '60s [[oldies]] consisting of [[newsreel]] and concert footage. It was introduced on January 1, 1985, with the video performance of "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" by [[Marvin Gaye]],<ref name="b and c" /> who died a year before the network launched (the national anthem was also played at the launch of Cable Music Channel) It was programmed to fit many of the radio formats popular with adults at the time including [[soft rock]], [[smooth jazz]], [[oldies]] and [[adult contemporary]].

From the start, Video Hits One was branded as an urban version of its sister/parent channel. It played more jazz and R&B artists than MTV and had a higher rotation of urban-contemporary performers.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Its early on-camera personalities were New York radio veterans [[Don Imus]] (then of [[WNBC (AM)|WNBC]]), [[Frankie Crocker]] (then program director and DJ for [[WBLS]]), [[Scott Shannon]] (of [[WHTZ]]), [[Jon Bauman]] ("Bowzer" from [[Sha Na Na]]), and [[Rita Coolidge]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Later VJs included [[Bobby Rivers]], who joined in 1987, Tim Byrd of [[WFAN-FM|WPIX-FM]] (the current day FM rebroadcast of [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]]), a station whose eclectic ballad-and-R&B oriented format mirrored that of VH-1, Roger Rose - Actor and comedian (Ski Patrol), and [[Alison Steele]] ("The Nightbird" of [[WNEW-FM]]). [[Rosie O'Donnell]] later joined the outlet's VJ lineup.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} O'Donnell would also host a comedy show featuring several comedians each episode.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} As an added touch to make the network more like a televised radio station, the early years of the network featured jingles in their bumpers produced by [[JAM Creative Productions]] in Dallas, who had previously made jingles for radio stations worldwide.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The format left room for occasional ad-libs by the VJ, a godsend for emcees such as Imus and O'Donnell. In true Imus style, he used a 1985 segment of his VH-1 show to jokingly call smooth-jazz icon [[Sade (singer)|Sade]] a "grape" for her oval-shaped head.

Typical of VH1's very early programming was ''New Visions'', a series which featured videos and in-studio performances by [[smooth jazz]] and classical and [[New-age music|new-age]] bands and performers, including [[Spyro Gyra]], [[Andy Narell]], [[Mark Isham]], [[Philip Glass]],<ref>{{youTube|tye8bHjPRUU|"Opening" by Philip Glass on VH-1's 'New Visions'}}</ref> and [[Yanni]]. At first many different musicians guest-hosted the program, but eventually musician/songwriter [[Ben Sidran]] became the permanent host.

New Age music videos continued to play on the channel into the 1990s. They would be seen on the Sunday morning two-hour music video block titled ''Sunday Brunch''.

==== Early programming (1989–1994) ====
Once VH1 established itself a few years later, they catered to Top 40, [[adult contemporary]], [[classic rock]], and 1980s mainstream pop.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/4NPYAxnuVgc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023805/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NPYAxnuVgc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=October 27, 2011 |title=1991 VH1 Commercials |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NPYAxnuVgc |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> For a time, even country music videos aired in a one-hour block during the afternoons. They started out using MTV's famous [[Kabel (typeface)|Kabel]]-based credits for their music video credit tags. It was later replaced in 1991 by a larger, vertically oriented font, with the year the video was made added to the lower column that identified the label on which the album was released. In 1993, the name of the videos' director was included at the bottom of the credits.

During this time, they also had some non-music programming, such as a comedy hour hosted by [[Rosie O'Donnell]] with various amateur and veteran comedians, called ''Stand Up Spotlight'',<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UE3cp0qg7go Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130731184706/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE3cp0qg7go Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=October 27, 2011 |title=Stand Up Spotlight – Robert G. Lee |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE3cp0qg7go |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> an in-depth look at current movies called ''Flix'',<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/MlwFedNQs1Y Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023721/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlwFedNQs1Y Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=March 14, 2009 |title=VH-1 Flix reports on Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey – 1991 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlwFedNQs1Y |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and reports on good civilians and volunteers in the community, called ''Good News People''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/c_eGsNBCjUQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20111206190550/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_eGsNBCjUQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=September 7, 2008 |title=1991 Little River Canyon Cleanup High Res Version |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_eGsNBCjUQ |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Every week, the Top 21 Video Countdown usually had a different guest host.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2011 |title=Schascle-VH1 Top 21 Count Down |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WJd3mYiVM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729113312/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WJd3mYiVM |archive-date=2013-07-29 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Occasionally, they had themed countdowns as well, such as Elvira hosting creepy videos for Halloween in 1991.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6VMyXii3LZE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023742/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VMyXii3LZE Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=October 27, 2011 |title=Elvira's Video Countdown |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VMyXii3LZE |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Long blocks of music videos by a particular artist or band, theme, or years were also very popular in this era. One popular weekend program was called ''Video Rewind'', in which blocks of 1980s videos from one particular year would play for an hour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WjmqbFeVzA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517195938/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WjmqbFeVzA |archive-date=2015-05-17 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=youtube.com}}</ref> There was also a short-lived hour-long program called ''By Request'' in which viewers could call a 1–900 hotline number to request their videos.

Another program was "History of Music Videos A to Z",<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INl_Es33erA |access-date=October 1, 2022 |website=youtube.com| date=July 18, 2016 }}</ref> which would include mini-marathons of videos mostly centered around artists based on a given alphabetical letter. During Independence Day weekends all the way to 1998, a large percentage of their library of music videos would be shown. A weeknight 11{{nbsp}}p.m. hour-long broadcast of [[Madonna]] videos, titled ''The Madonna Show'', aired around that era. The videos were aired without introduction by a VJ and the program was soon shortened to thirty minutes, and then scrapped altogether.

Also in 1991, a popular morning program was introduced called ''Hits News & Weather'' that ran from 7{{nbsp}}am to 9{{nbsp}}am ET.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2010 |title=VH1 1991 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QseEyA2O_rA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023815/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QseEyA2O_rA |archive-date=2013-10-17 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}</ref> (It later expanded to 10{{nbsp}}am ET.) It was composed of music videos both past and present along with a 90-second update of the day's news & weather provided by [[All News Channel]]. The updates were typically shown twice an hour during the program. A box displaying the minutes past the hour was shown below the logo during the period. It was discontinued a week before the channel was re-branded in the Fall of 1994. During the week prior, classic music videos from forgotten artists/bands aired, titled ''Whatever Happened To...?''

The channel's playlist was gradually expanding, and, by 1994, included contemporary musicians such as [[Ace of Base]], [[Melissa Etheridge]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[Lisa Loeb]], [[Amy Grant]], [[Seal (musician)|Seal]], and other slightly heavier, or more [[alternative rock]]-influenced music than what it had originally played, although favorites such as [[Whitney Houston]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Rod Stewart]], [[Cher]], [[Elton John]], [[Madonna]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Janet Jackson]], and [[Celine Dion|Céline Dion]] still continued to receive heavy play for several more years as well. VH1 to One was a program in the Video Hits One era that was very similar to Behind The Music. It profiled artists such as Phil Collins, Michael Bolton and Paul McCartney, plus other various artists of interest at the time that were playing the network's chosen style of music at the time and their music careers. It was one of the programs that would continue into the incoming Music First era.

==== VH1 Corvette Give-away Sweepstakes ====
In order to reach a wider and younger audience, VH1 announced in late 1989 that in 1990 they would be holding a contest where the grand prize was a collection of 36 [[Chevrolet Corvette]]s, one for every model year from its introduction year of 1953, to the then current model year of 1989 (there is no model for 1983), all going to a single grand winner. All cars were to be certified as roadworthy and in "good" to "excellent" condition. The collection at the time had an estimated worth of over {{US$}}1 million. Contestants entered by calling a [[Premium-rate telephone number|1-900 number]] and registering, at $2 per call. VH1 received over 4 million call-in entries. The winner was a man from Long Island, New York, who immediately sold the entire collection to artist [[Peter Max]] for $500,000. Max intended to use the cars for an art project, but it never got started and the entire collection was left in an underground parking lot in New York City for over 20 years, and deteriorated into poor condition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=vh1-once-gave-away-a-collection-of-corvettes-from-every-single-model-year |url=https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/vh1-once-gave-away-a-collection-of-corvettes-from-every-single-model-year-256039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083408/https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/vh1-once-gave-away-a-collection-of-corvettes-from-every-single-model-year-256039 |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |publisher=autotrader.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=max-corvettes |url=https://roadtrippers.com/stories/max-corvettes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005151/https://roadtrippers.com/stories/max-corvettes |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |publisher=roadtrippers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=vh1 corvette giveaway |url=http://corvetteheroes.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929150340/http://corvetteheroes.com/ |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |publisher=corvetteheroes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2014 |title=Forgotten Corvette collection emerges from the dust after 25 years |url=https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/peter-max-s-forgotten-corvette-collection-emerges-from-the-dust-after-25-years-162558587.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227124147/https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/peter-max-s-forgotten-corvette-collection-emerges-from-the-dust-after-25-years-162558587.html |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2015 |website=Yahoo Autos}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2014 |title=Long Forgotten Corvette Collection Rediscovered |url=http://restomods.com/forgotten-corvette-collection-rediscovered-256/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230083016/http://restomods.com/forgotten-corvette-collection-rediscovered-256/ |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2015 |website=Restomods.com}}</ref>

=== ''VH1: Music First'' (1994–2003) ===
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2008}}
[[File:VH1 94-2003 logo.svg|thumb|150px|right|The third VH1 logo used from 1994 to 2003. The circle ring surrounding the logo was added in 1998. It was used on [[MTV Classic (British and Irish TV channel)|VH1 Classic UK]] from 2004 to 2010, [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|VH1 Classic US]] from 2000 to 2007, and [[VH1 Classic (European TV channel)|VH1 Classic Europe]] from 2004 to 2020.]] On October 17, 1994, VH1 re-branded itself as ''VH1: Music First'',<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/dDB3ynCBudc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120625075319/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDB3ynCBudc&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=March 11, 2007 |title=MADONNA, VH1 94' Advice |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDB3ynCBudc |access-date=September 22, 2013 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-10-22.pdf |title=VH1 Signs Off On Baby Boomers - A Billboard Exclusive |access-date=October 1, 2022|website=World Radio History}}</ref> following a slight ratings decline in the early 1990s.<ref name="b and c" /> By 1996, VH1 was heading down the same path as its sister channel, MTV, choosing to focus more on music-related shows rather than just music videos. Additionally, the network began to expand its playlist of music videos to include more rock music.<ref name="b and c" /> Old episodes of ''[[American Bandstand]]'' could regularly be seen on the channel. By that time, the channel's [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] were beginning to fall.

==== ''Video Countdown'' ====
{{unreferenced|section|date=May 2024}}
As part of VH-1's re-branding as "VH1: Music First" in 1994, the channel launched a new series, the ''VH1 Top 10 Countdown'', replacing the old Top 21 Countdown, that counted down the top 10 music videos played on VH1 each week. A combination of record sales, radio airplay, video spins, [[Internet forum|message board]] posts, and [[Mail|conventional mail]] would decide the order of the countdown. A rotating cast of [[VJ (media personality)|VJs]] picked up hosting duties for the show over the years. The series expanded from 10 to 20 music videos, becoming the ''[[VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown]]'', in 2001. In early 2015, the show was renamed ''The 20'' and discontinued later that year.

==== ''Pop-Up Video'' ====
In Fall 1996, VH1 premiered ''[[Pop-Up Video]]'', in which music videos were accompanied by "pop-ups" (also known as "bubbles" or "info nuggets")—small enclosed areas of the screen containing facts about the band artists, and videos such as career highlights, discography, biographical details, quotes, and anecdotes. For a time, this was VH1's highest rated show.

==== ''VH1 Storytellers'' ====
{{main|VH1 Storytellers}}
In February 1996, VH1 again hit it big with the premiere of the first of the network's flagship shows, ''VH1 Storytellers''. The show began with a broadcast of [[Ray Davies]], during his "Storyteller" tour, and took its name from this first show. In each hourlong episode, artists appear in front of a (mostly small and intimate) live audience, interspersing musical performances with anecdotes related to the songs' meaning, the songwriting process, audience reaction, etc. Along with Davies, the series has featured a widely diverse list of artists, including [[Culture Club]], [[Stone Temple Pilots]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Kanye West]], [[Tom Waits]], and [[Def Leppard]]. [[Meat Loaf]] enjoyed the show's format so much that he bought the stage decorations from VH-1 and went on to do a "Storytellers" tour in 1998/1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 7, 1999 |title=Meat Loaf's "Storytellers" Tour Extended Through January |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/772.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517044055/http://www.livedaily.com/news/772.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=June 27, 2008 |publisher=livedaily.com}}</ref>

==== ''Behind the Music'' ====
{{main|Behind the Music}}
VH1 scored another hit in August 1997 with the debut of ''Behind the Music''. The hour-long show features interviews and biographies of some of popular music's biggest stars qualified to be profiled on the series. The premiere episode featured [[Milli Vanilli]]. Episodes have ranged from [[Aaliyah]] to [[Stryper]] to [[Keith Moon]], as well as others such as, [[Meat Loaf]], [[Tori Amos]], [[MC Hammer]], [[Cher]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[TLC (music)|TLC]], [["Weird Al" Yankovic]], [[Megadeth]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Selena]], [[Petra (band)|Petra]], [[Pantera]], and [[Eminem]], with more episodes being produced periodically. By the late 1990s, the show began to run out of artists to profile, leading to the short-lived ''BTM2'' program, half-hour looks into bands and artists whose popularity was rising, but not yet at its peak.

==== ''Legends'' ====
{{Main|VH1's Legends}}
Shortly after, VH1 created a companion series, ''[[VH1's Legends|Legends]]'' (originally sponsored by [[AT&T Corporation|AT&T]]), profiling artists who have made a more significant contribution to music history to qualify as "Legends" (that is, those artists who have gone beyond the category of ''Behind the Music'' biographies). The artists profiled so far have included <!--KEEP IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER-->[[Aerosmith]]; the [[Bee Gees]]; [[David Bowie]]; [[Johnny Cash]]; [[Eric Clapton]]; [[The Clash]]; [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]; [[Sam Cooke]]; [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]]; [[The Doors]]; [[John Fogerty]]; [[Aretha Franklin]]; [[Marvin Gaye]]; [[The Grateful Dead]]; [[Guns N' Roses]]; [[Jimi Hendrix]]; [[Michael Jackson]]; [[Eminem]]; [[Elton John]]; [[Janis Joplin]]; [[B.B. King]]; [[Led Zeppelin]]; [[John Lennon]]; [[Curtis Mayfield]]; [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]; [[Pink Floyd]]; [[The Pretenders]]; [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]; [[Queen (band)|Queen]]; [[Bruce Springsteen]]; [[Tina Turner]]; [[U2]]; [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]]; [[The Who]], and [[Neil Young]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legends: Episode List |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/legends/episode_list.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125040446/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/legends/episode_list.jhtml |archive-date=January 25, 2008 |publisher=VH1.com}}</ref>

==== Save The Music Foundation ====
{{unreferenced|section|date=May 2024}}
Founded in 1997 (until 2017) by John Sykes as VH1 Save The Music and funded by the first Divas concerts, the Save The Music Foundation became a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008. The mission of the organization is to help students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. Save The Music partners with school districts and raises funds to restore music programs in public schools. Since inception, STM has donated over $60 million worth of new musical instruments, equipment, and technology to 2,201 schools in 277 school districts around the country, reaching hundreds of thousands of students.

==== ''VH1 Divas'' ====
In 1998 (until 2016), VH1 debuted the first annual ''[[VH1 Divas]]'' concert and featured the "divas" [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Shania Twain]], [[Gloria Estefan]], and [[Celine Dion]], and the "special guest" [[Carole King]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=April 16, 1998 |title=There Are Divas, and There Are Divas |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EEDD173CF935A25757C0A96E958260 |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522131708/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EEDD173CF935A25757C0A96E958260 |archive-date=May 22, 2008}}</ref> The second installment of these "diva" shows was produced in 1999 featuring [[Whitney Houston]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Cher]], [[LeAnn Rimes]], [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Chaka Khan]], [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], and special "divo" [[Elton John]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freydkin |first=Donna |date=April 16, 1999 |title=VH1's dueling divas belt it out for a good cause |work=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9904/16/divas/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601041404/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9904/16/divas/ |archive-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> It became a huge success and was featured in the following years starring [[Diana Ross]], [[Donna Summer]], [[Destiny's Child]], [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Jordin Sparks]], [[Miley Cyrus]], [[Jennifer Hudson]], [[Shakira]], [[Deborah Harry]], [[Anastacia]], [[Dixie Chicks]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Patti LaBelle]], and [[Jessica Simpson]]. Also in 1999, [[Donna Summer]] who was asked to do the "diva" concert, was given her own concert special by VH1 "Donna Summer Live and More: Encore". Some female artists such as [[Whitney Houston]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Cher]], [[Chaka Khan]], and [[Billy Joel]] were featured in two or more VH1 divas concerts, with [[Cyndi Lauper]] appearing the most times, having been featured in four concerts. In 2000, [[Diana Ross]], who has been asked several times to appear on previous editions, appeared in her own edition of the special, "VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute To Diana Ross".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/fRmhiwuwvzY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200216074823/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRmhiwuwvzY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=Divas 2000 A Tribute To Diana Ross {{!}} VH1 {{!}} Television Commercial {{!}} 2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRmhiwuwvzY |website=[[YouTube]]| date=May 4, 2018 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== ''Movies That Rock'' ====
{{unreferenced|section|date=May 2024}}
In 1999, VH1 aired its first original movie, a biopic on [[Sweetwater (band)|Sweetwater]]. Their third original movie (which aired in 2000), ''[[Two of Us (2000 television)|Two of Us]]'', focused on a fictional meeting between [[John Lennon]] and [[Paul McCartney]]. Over the next three years, they made over a dozen movies, including bio-pics on [[Jim Morrison]] and [[The Doors]], [[Ricky Nelson]], [[MC Hammer]], [[The Monkees]], [[Meat Loaf]], and [[Def Leppard]].

VH1 continues to air "Movies That Rock" on a regular basis, expanding to include movies not produced by VH1. The subject matter remains mostly focused on music and musicians.

==== Diversification ====
{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2024}}
In the late 1990s, VH1's music choices became more diversified and teen-oriented.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The network would update its 1994 "Big 1" logo during this period.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Various late-night rock shows have been shown on VH1, featuring [[alternative rock]] and [[Heavy metal music|metal]] videos from the 1980s and 1990s.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} VH1 eventually warmed up to harder rock acts such as the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], the [[Foo Fighters]], the [[Stone Temple Pilots]], and [[Metallica]]. Their new videos began being added into VH1's playlist right away.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Two spinoff channels, [[VH1 Smooth]] (later to be known as VH1 Classic and [[MTV]] Classic) & VH1 Country (later to be known as [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] Pure Country and [[CMT_(American_TV_channel)#CMT_Music|CMT Music]]), launched on August 1, 1998.<ref name="Smooth">{{cite news|last1=Hay|first1=Carla|title=MTV, Box Take Steps In Digital Programming|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-07-11.pdf|access-date=March 12, 2017|volume=110|issue=28|date=July 11, 1998|pages=8, 92}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Suite from MTV and VH1|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-01-26.pdf|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|access-date=March 12, 2017|date=January 26, 1998|page=54}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Bill|title=Using New Digital Technology, MTV Adds Specialized Channels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/arts/using-new-digital-technology-mtv-adds-specialized-channels.html|access-date=March 12, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 25, 1997}}</ref>

Around late 2002, VH1 began to play mainstream [[hip hop music|rap]] musicians.<ref name="b and c" /> The latest videos by [[Eminem]], [[Nelly]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Missy Elliott]], and [[Eve (entertainer)|Eve]] began to be shown in VH1's rotation and even started to cut up on VH1's top 20 countdown.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} VH1 also plays music from Latin artists such as [[Ricky Martin]], [[Marc Anthony]], [[Enrique Iglesias]], [[Thalía]], and [[Shakira]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==== Other past trends ====
''rockDocs'' was the title under which VH1 aired various [[rockumentary|music documentaries]], both those produced by VH1 and those produced by third parties. Such documentary series produced by VH1 include "''And Ya' Don't Stop''", a five-part series on the history of hip-hop and rap,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phil Gallo |date=October 3, 2004 |title=And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip Hop |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925111.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104070151/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925111.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 |archive-date=January 4, 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |publisher=Variety}}</ref> a four-part series on the history of heavy metal, ''[[Heavy: The Story of Metal]]'', and ''[[The Drug Years]]'', which tells the story of different drug cultures that changed America. Films produced by other studios have also been aired as ''rockDocs'', including ''[[Woodstock (film)|Woodstock]]'', ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare]]'', ''[[Tupac: Resurrection]]'', ''[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey]]'', ''[[Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!]]'', a documentary on the [[Beastie Boys]], and most recently ''[[Last Days of Left Eye]]'' which documented the last month of [[Lisa Lopes]]'s life from the band [[TLC (band)|TLC]], and ''N.W.A.: The World's Most Dangerous Group,'' featuring the narration of comedian [[Chris Rock]], which chronicled the rise and fall of [[N.W.A]].

VH1 endured criticism for ''Music Behind Bars'', which mainly focuses on musicians in custody. Critics have claimed prisoners, mainly those convicted of murder, should not be entitled to any exposure, especially nationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia News, Local News, Weather, Traffic, and Breaking News |url=http://www.nbc10.com/news/1712084/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723130740/http://www.nbc10.com/news/1712084/detail.html |archive-date=July 23, 2008 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=NBC 10 Philadelphia}}</ref>

The channel aired ''[[Where Are They Now? (VH1 TV series)|Where Are They Now?]]'' from 1999 to 2002. It featured former celebrities and their current professional and personal status. Each episode was dedicated to a specific genre, ranging from past child stars to [[Aaron Spelling#Notable productions|Aaron Spelling's notable productions]], to controversial news figures.

VH1 also aired a series of promos in 2003, featuring animated kittens from the online animation website Rathergood, lip-synching popular songs such as "[[I Love Rock n' Roll]]" written & performed by [[Alan Merrill]] of the [[Arrows (British band)|Arrows]] since 1975 (US cover hit by [[Joan Jett]] in 1982), [[Culture Club]]'s "[[Karma Chameleon]]" and [[Guns N' Roses]]' "[[Welcome to the Jungle]]". These spots were done by London-based animator [[Joel Veitch]].

=== Box logo era (2003–2013) ===
[[File:VH1 Logo.svg|thumbnail|150px|The fourth VH1 logo used from 2003 to 2013. [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|VH1 Classic]] used the wordmark until 2016. VH1 international channels also used the logo, with [[VH1 India|the Indian version of VH1]] still using the logo today.]]
In August 2003, the network changed its focus again, dropping "Music First" from its name, and introducing a box logo. Having saturated its ''Behind The Music'' series (and spinoff ''BTM2'', a 30-minute version that told the stories of current chart-toppers), gotten past the point of showing music videos on a regular basis, the network began to target the pop culture nostalgia market.<ref name="b and c" /><ref name="slate">{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Bryan |date=February 23, 2006 |title=VH1: The Surreal Network |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2136882/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427111120/http://www.slate.com/id/2136882/ |archive-date=April 27, 2006 |access-date=February 24, 2006 |website=Slate}}</ref> Following the controversy over the murder-suicide of a contestant from ''[[Megan Wants a Millionaire]]'', the channel toned down its reality programming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Business/Financial Desk; SECTB - With 'Celebreality,' VH1 attracts ratings and chagrin |page=5 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/media/31cable.html?_r=3&fta=y&pagewanted=all |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223035044/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/media/31cable.html?_r=3&fta=y&pagewanted=all |archive-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 18, 2010 |title=Music Index&nbsp;– Top Story 1 - VH1 revamps programming |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iec3c2452ddf8270c14cd59b8ec1ea302 |url-status=dead |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125170346/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iec3c2452ddf8270c14cd59b8ec1ea302 |archive-date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref> On July 1, 2007, VH1 and [[MTV Live (TV network)|MHD]] simulcast the entire ''Concert for Diana'' live from London, England, on the birthday of [[Princess Diana]], [[Princess of Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Video of the Concert for Diana On-Demand - View Individual Performances Online - See Photos from the Concert for Princess Diana - VH1.com |url=http://www.vh1.com/events/concerts/diana/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223181053/http://www.vh1.com/events/concerts/diana/ |archive-date=February 23, 2015 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=vh1.com}}</ref>

VH1 would continue to air its music video blocks despite its decreasing reliance on such programming.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Their main program block was seen from 3{{nbsp}}a.m. to 11{{nbsp}}a.m. ET.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The overnight block was called ''Insomniac Music Theater'', later renamed ''Nocturnal State'' in August 2005.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} At of the beginning of October 2008, ''Nocturnal State'' was cut down to one hour, and ''Fresh: New Music'' was supplanted by additional hours of ''Jump Start''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} In 2010, VH1 retired ''Nocturnal State''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Music Videos continued to be branded under ''Jump Start'' until January 5, 2013.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==== ''I Love…'' series (2002–2014) ====
{{further|I Love...#VH1 series}}
In 2002, VH1 broadcast a ten-part series entitled ''[[I Love the '80s (American TV series)|I Love the '80s]]''. The series was adapted from a [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] series, first broadcast in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Two - I Love the 1970s |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805184120/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/ |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=BBC}}</ref> in which current entertainers and pop-culture figures offered their take on the trends, events, and personalities of another decade. The success of VH1's ''I Love the '80s'', coupled with the growing nostalgia for ever-more-recent times, led the network to create an array of similarly themed programs. These ranged from [[2003 in television|2003's]] ''[[I Love the '70s (American TV series)|I Love the '70s]]'', to further variants like ''[[I Love the '80s Strikes Back]]'', ''[[I Love the '90s (American TV series)|I Love the '90s]]'', and ''[[I Love the '90s: Part Deux]]''. More recently, VH1 premiered ''[[I Love the '80s 3-D]]'' and ''[[I Love the '70s: Volume 2]]''. So eager was the network to capitalize on the trend while it was hot, that it devoted a series to the 2000s, despite the fact that the decade had not yet ended (''[[I Love the New Millennium]]'', broadcast in 2008, covered only the years 2000–2007). This was thought to be the final installment of the series until 2014, when ''[[I Love the 2000s]]'' continued the format.

The concept was broadened to include non-decade based installments, ''[[I Love the Holidays]]'' and ''[[I Love Toys]]''. The format of these shows has also been reused for the weekly program ''[[Best Week Ever]]'' and the four-part series ''[[Black to the Future (TV series)|Black to the Future]]'' that focuses on [[African-American]] topics.

==== ''The Greatest'' series ====
VH1 also produces its ''[[The Greatest (TV series)|The Greatest]]'' series in which a similar format is used to countdown lists like ''"100 Greatest Artists of Rock and Roll"'', ''"The 50 Sexiest Video Moments"'', ''"100 Greatest Songs of Rock 'N' Roll"'', ''"100 Greatest Songs from the Past 25 Years"'', ''"100 Greatest One-hit Wonders"'', ''"100 Greatest Kid Stars"'', and ''"100 Greatest Teen Stars"''. In 2001, [[Mark McGrath]] hosted VH1's miniseries ''"100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock 'N' Roll"'', which compiled a list of the moments in music history that changed its course and shook its foundations.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=All News Releases and Press Releases from PR Newswire |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/news-releases-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214024629/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/news-releases-list/ |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=www.prnewswire.com}}</ref> Recently in late December 2009, an updated series titled ''"100 Most Shocking Music Moments"'' aired on VH1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ep. 207 - 100 Most Shocking Music Moments (Hour 1) - The Greatest - Episode Summary, Highlights, and Recaps - VH1.com |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_greatest/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156471 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224005806/http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_greatest/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156471 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=vh1.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=AOL |title=Exclusive: VH1's '100 Most Shocking Music Moments' |url=http://www.popeater.ca/2009/12/28/vh1-100-most-shocking-music-moments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412165050/http://www.popeater.ca/2009/12/28/vh1-100-most-shocking-music-moments/ |archive-date=April 12, 2010 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=PopEater}}</ref> In 2008 and early 2009, the channel premiered the "''100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs"'', ''"100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs"'', ''"100 Greatest Songs of the 90s"'', and ''"100 Greatest Songs of the 80s"''.

==== ''40 Most Awesomely Bad'' ====
In 2004, VH1 began this mini-series category with ''"50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever"'', counting down the songs that were deemed horrible. Additional series in this group include ''"40 Most Awesomely Bad Dirrty Songs...Ever"'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1.com |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_dirty_songs_ever/series.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822140114/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_dirty_songs_ever/series.jhtml |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref> ''"40 Most Awesomely Bad Break-up Songs...Ever"'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1.com - Error Page 404.html |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/awesomely_bad_breakup_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009000945/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/awesomely_bad_breakup_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=vh1.com}}</ref> ''"40 Most Awesomely Bad #1 Songs...Ever"'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1.com |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_1_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330164008/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_1_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref> ''"40 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs...Ever"'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1.com - Error Page 404.html |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_metal_songs_ever/series_featured_copy.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219031051/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_most_awesomely_bad_metal_songs_ever/series_featured_copy.jhtml |archive-date=February 19, 2007 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |website=vh1.com}}</ref> and ''"40 Most Awesomely Bad Love Songs"''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1.com |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_awesomely_bad_love_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823061402/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/40_awesomely_bad_love_songs/series_countdown.jhtml |archive-date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

==== ''Celebreality'' ==== <!--Section linked from [[VH1 reality]]-->
In January 2005 VH1 launched its ''Celebreality'' programming block of reality shows featuring celebrities, anchored by ''[[The Surreal Life]]'', which mimics [[MTV]]'s ''[[The Real World (TV series)|The Real World]]'', instead placing celebrities from the past into a living environment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fink |first=Sharon |date=January 9, 2005 |title=Arts & Entertainment - Watchable trash |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |url=http://sptimes.com/2005/01/09/news_pf/Artsandentertainment/Watchable_trash.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=August 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621235704/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/09/news_pf/Artsandentertainment/Watchable_trash.shtml |archive-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref>
The word "celebreality" is blend of the words "celebrity" and "reality" and is generally used to describe reality TV shows in which celebrities participate as subjects. The term appears to have been coined by Michael Gross, writing for The Toronto Star on May 12, 1991. In his article, entitled "Celebrity's New Face," Mr. Gross used a hyphenated form of the word ("celeb-reality") to describe the tendency of certain contemporary celebrities to downplay the traditional trappings of [[Hollywood glamour]]. "You could see the new celeb-reality on display at this year's Oscars," wrote Gross. "It is Kathy Bates and Whoopi Goldberg, not Kim Basinger and Michelle Pfeiffer. It is Jeremy Irons in black tie and the sneakers he says keep his feet on the ground. It is Kevin Costner, fighting small, important battles, winning big, but reacting with modesty and going off to party privately. The new celebrities are human first, famous second."

The next known citation of the word is by Joyce Millman, writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'' on January 5, 2003. In an article entitled, "Celebreality: The 'Stars' Are Elbowing Their Way In," Ms. Millman wrote: "Celebreality, the junk genre du jour, turns the notion of reality TV upside down. Instead of real people acting like celebrities on shows like "Survivor", "Big Brother" and "The Bachelor", celebreality gives us celebrities acting like real people on shows like "The Osbournes", "The Anna Nicole Show" and "Celebrity Boot Camp." I'm using the term "celebrity" loosely here—we're not talking about Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts and Dame Judi Dench eating bugs and scrubbing latrines. No, the celebrities of celebreality are a motlier crew, like, well, Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil, the former rap superstar M. C. Hammer and the wee ex-Michael Jackson ornament Emmanuel ("Webster") Lewis. Those three will be setting up housekeeping together on Thursday in "The Surreal Life" on WB, a celebreality spin on MTV's "Real World." Not to be outdone, ABC sends a Baldwin brother (Stephen), a supermodel (Frederique) and a former "L.A. Law" star (Corbin Bernsen) to Hawaii for "Celebrity Mole Hawaii", beginning Wednesday."

The VH1 Celebreality block has also aired shows such as:
* 2003: ''[[Surviving Nugent]]'' sent eight individuals to [[Ted Nugent]]'s house to compete in various games and activities. One of the contestants was future reality show star [[Tila Tequila]].
* 2005–2007: ''[[Hogan Knows Best]]'' is [[Hulk Hogan]]'s reality show.
* 2005–2010: ''[[Celebrity Fit Club (American TV series)|Celebrity Fit Club]]'' is a show where celebrities get in shape.
* 2005: ''[[Strange Love]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[The Surreal Life]]'', following the relationship between [[Brigitte Nielsen]] and [[Flavor Flav]].
* 2005–2008: ''[[My Fair Brady]]'' is another spin-off from ''[[The Surreal Life]]'', which follows the relationship of [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]], who played [[Peter Brady (The Brady Bunch)|Peter Brady]] on ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', and [[Adrianne Curry]], who won the first season of ''[[America's Next Top Model]]''.
* 2005-2006: ''[[Breaking Bonaduce]]'' covers the therapy and life of [[Danny Bonaduce]].
* 2006–2007: ''[[Celebrity Paranormal Project]]'' features celebrities placed in haunted locations to explore and perform tasks.
* 2006–2008: ''[[Flavor of Love]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[Strange Love]]'', where [[Flavor Flav]] tries to find love.
* 2007–2009: ''[[I Love New York (TV series)|I Love New York]]'', ''[[New York Goes to Hollywood]]'', and ''New York Goes to Work'' feature [[Tiffany Pollard|Tiffany "New York" Pollard]], from [[Flavor of Love]].
* 2007: ''[[Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[Flavor of Love]]''
* 2007–2009: ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels|Rock of Love]]'' features [[Bret Michaels]] searching for love.
* 2007: ''[[Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show]]'' is a reality contest hosted by MC Serch.
* 2007–2008: ''[[The Salt-N-Pepa Show]]'' is a reality series following the 1990s rap duo [[Salt-N-Pepa]].
* 2008–2009: ''[[Rock of Love: Charm School]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]''
* 2008–2010: ''[[I Love Money]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[Flavor of Love]]'', ''[[I Love New York (TV series)|I Love New York]]'', ''[[Real Chance of Love]]'', and ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]''. There were four seasons of this show made altogether (seasons 1, 2, 3* and 4). The third season was cancelled due to contestant Ryan Jenkin's involvement in the murder of [[Jasmine Fiore]], which took place in August 2009.
* 2008: ''[[¡Viva Hollywood!]]'' featured Hispanic actors competing for a chance to star in a [[telenovela]], hosted by [[Carlos Ponce]] and [[María Conchita Alonso]].
* 2008: ''[[Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme]]'' is another reality contest hosted by MC Serch.
* 2008–2009: ''[[Real Chance of Love]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[I Love New York (TV series)|I Love New York]]'' and ''[[I Love Money]]''.
* 2008–2012: ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]'', which chronicled a group of celebrities as they're treated for alcohol and drug addiction by Dr. Drew Pinsky and his staff at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California.
* 2008: ''[[Glam God with Vivica A. Fox]]'' is a reality show with red carpet diva [[Vivica A. Fox]].
* 2008: ''[[The Cho Show]]'' is a reality sitcom following the antics of comedian [[Margaret Cho]].
* 2009: ''[[Daisy of Love]]'' features Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 2)|Rock of Love 2]]'', in her own dating show spin-off.
* 2009: ''[[My Antonio]]'' is a reality series based on [[Antonio Sabato Jr.]]'s search for love.
* 2009: ''[[Charm School with Ricki Lake]]'' is a spin-off of ''[[Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels]]'' and ''[[Real Chance of Love]]''.
* 2009: ''[[Megan Wants a Millionaire]]'' features [[Megan Hauserman]] from ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 2)|Rock of Love 2]]'', ''[[I Love Money (season 1)|I Love Money]]'', and ''[[Rock of Love: Charm School]]'' in her own reality dating spin-off. The program was canceled in mid-August 2009, a third of the way through its run, due to show contestant Ryan Jenkins's involvement in the murder of [[Jasmine Fiore]].
* 2010: ''[[Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair]]'' features Frank Maresca, a contestant from ''[[I Love New York 2]]'', ''[[I Love Money]]'', and ''[[I Love Money 2]]'', in his own dating show spin-off.
* 2010: ''[[The Price of Beauty]]'' is a reality/documentary show featuring singer [[Jessica Simpson]] traveling the world.

==== ''Hip-Hop'' and ''Rock Honors'' ====
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
Since 2004, VH1 has showed their appreciation for hip-hop and rock music by honoring pioneers and movements. Hip-hop musicians honored include [[Eazy-E]], [[LL Cool J]], [[The Notorious B.I.G.]], [[2Pac]], and [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]]. All of the shows have been taped in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. On May 25, 2006, [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Judas Priest]], [[Def Leppard]], and [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]<!--in the order they where inducted--> were the inaugural inductees into the [[VH1 Rock Honors]] in Las Vegas. The ceremony aired on VH1 six days later. In 2007, [[ZZ Top]], [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], and [[Ozzy Osbourne]] were inducted into the VH1 Rock Honors. 2008's only Rock Honors inductees were [[The Who]].

==== ''For What It's Worth'' ====
''For What It's Worth'' premiered on February 21, 2013, and only lasted the length of one season. The show featured hosts [[Gary Dell'Abate]] and [[Jon Hein]] appraising music and pop-culture memorabilia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=For What It's Worth TV Show |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/for-what-its-worth/527945/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105091301/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/for-what-its-worth/527945/ |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2017 |website=TV Guide}}</ref> The first episode featured musician [[Jack White]] at [[Third Man Records]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], discussing a format of vinyl record he invented called the "Triple Decker Record".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2013 |title=Watch Jack White and Third Man Records on VH1's "For What It's Worth" |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/02/watch-jack-white-and-third-man-records-on-vh1s-for-what-its-worth/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023719/https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/02/watch-jack-white-and-third-man-records-on-vh1s-for-what-its-worth/ |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2017 |website=Consequences of Sound}}</ref> The show also chose [[Gary Sohmers]], an appraiser from [[Antiques Roadshow (American TV series)|Antiques Roadshow]], to be an expert appraiser on all six episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2013 |title=For What It's Worth |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2725520/?ref_=nv_sr_5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308201711/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2725520/?ref_=nv_sr_5 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=October 28, 2017 |website=IMDB}}</ref>

==== Breakfast television ====
Starting in 2011, VH1 has broadcast ''[[Big Morning Buzz Live]]'', a daily [[breakfast television|morning news]] and [[pop culture]] talk show hosted by [[Carrie Keagan]], [[Jason Dundas]] and VH1 music expert [[Jim Shearer]] and, later, [[Nick Lachey]].<ref name="VH1 Sept 2013">{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Elizabeth |date=September 4, 2013 |title=Get Ready for the Return Of ''Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan'' And ''The Gossip Table'' On 30 September |url=http://blog.vh1.com/2013-09-04/big-morning-buzz-live-carrie-keagan-the-gossip-table-return/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118014643/http://blog.vh1.com/2013-09-04/big-morning-buzz-live-carrie-keagan-the-gossip-table-return/ |archive-date=November 18, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |website=VH1.com (Internet Archive)}}</ref><ref name="VH1 May2013">{{Cite web |last=Puccio |first=Crystal |date=May 21, 2013 |title=VH1 Delivers Celeb Scoop Every Morning in Brand New Show ''The Gossip Table'' |url=http://blog.vh1.com/2013-05-21/vh1s-the-gossip-table/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926151634/http://blog.vh1.com/2013-05-21/vh1s-the-gossip-table/ |archive-date=September 26, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |website=VH1.com (Internet Archive)}}</ref> The show features entertainment news, celebrity interviews and musical performances.<ref name="VH1 Sept 2013" /><ref name="VH1 May2013" /> On June 3, 2013, VH1 premiered ''[[The Gossip Table]]'', another live daily entertainment news program featuring five entertainment columnists presenting entertainment news and gossip.<ref name="VH1 Sept 2013" /><ref name="VH1 May2013" /> Both shows have since been cancelled.

==== VH1 Best Cruise Ever ====
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
From April 28 to May 2, 2011, from Tampa to Cozumel music fans could experience non-stop music performances from headliners [[Train (band)|Train]], [[Lifehouse (band)|Lifehouse]], [[Colbie Caillat]], and [[The Script]]. Other bands include [[Alpha Rev]], [[Civil Twilight (band)|Civil Twilight]], [[Mat Kearney]], [[One eskimO]], [[SafetySuit]], [[Thriving Ivory]], Trailer Park Ninjas, and [[Ryan Star]]. The cruise is on The [[Carnival Cruise Lines|Carnival Cruise Line]] ship [[Carnival Inspiration]].

=== "Plus" logo era (2013–2022) ===
[[File:VH1 logonew.svg|thumb|200px|VH1 logo used from 2013 until 2016, font still used in the updated 2016 version of the logo.]]
On January 5, 2013, VH1 introduced a new logo that closely resembles their first. The logo has a "plus" sign in it, representing VH1's focus on music-related shows and events and pop culture-based reality programming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=&#124; Vh1 Press |url=https://www.vh1press.com/press-releases/2014/12/30/vh1-reveals-new-brand-identity-across-linear-digital-and-social-platforms-on-the-heels-of-ratings-momentum-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816105954/https://www.vh1press.com/press-releases/2014/12/30/vh1-reveals-new-brand-identity-across-linear-digital-and-social-platforms-on-the-heels-of-ratings-momentum-3 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |access-date=August 16, 2019 |website=Vh1Press}}</ref> The network's main video block was ''VH1 + Music'', seen weekday mornings between 6{{nbsp}}a.m. and 11{{nbsp}}a.m. The new ''Nocturnal State'' block aired Mondays through Sundays between 3{{nbsp}}a.m. and 6{{nbsp}}a.m.

Since 2014, VH1 programming was noted to be shifting towards shows focused around [[African-American]] personalities, similar to [[BET]] and its [[BET Networks|sister networks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Once You Go Black: VH1 and the Growing Power of Black TV Viewers |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/vh1-and-black-viewers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220022723/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/vh1-and-black-viewers |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Why VH1 Gets to Be Black Without the Burden |url=https://www.theroot.com/why-vh1-gets-to-be-black-without-the-burden-1790877558 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815195120/https://www.theroot.com/why-vh1-gets-to-be-black-without-the-burden-1790877558 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |website=[[The Root (magazine)|The Root]]}}</ref> On December 28, 2015, oversight of spin-off music video channel VH1 Soul was moved to [[BET Networks]], with the channel rebranding as [[BET Soul]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bet.com/article/c8hxuc/vh1-soul-to-become-bet-soul|title=VH1 Soul to Become BET Soul The 24-hour music video channel to make big switch today.|last=Chapman Jr.|first=George|date=28 December 2015|publisher=[[BET Networks]]|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref>

In the first quarter of 2016, VH1 announced its highest ratings in six years and it was then the fastest-growing subscription channel in that same period. Thanks to the success of shows like ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'', ''[[Stevie J & Joseline Go Hollywood]]'', ''[[K. Michelle: My Life]]'', and ''[[Mob Wives]]'', the channel has moved ahead as a Top Five network for adults.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VH1 Garners Highest Ratings In 6 Years, Leads The Top 25 Cable Networks In Growth |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/009tp1/vh1-highest-ratings-in-6-years-leads-the-top-25-cable-networks-in-growth |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620022230/https://www.vh1.com/news/009tp1/vh1-highest-ratings-in-6-years-leads-the-top-25-cable-networks-in-growth |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=www.vh1.com}}</ref> Conversely, ''VH1 + Music'' was discontinued and replaced by reruns of 1990s–2000s sitcoms shared with Paramount's other networks.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} Since then, the channel only carries music videos in continuity between shows.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} During the same year, VH1 would also revive the former [[The CW|CW]] reality competition series ''[[America's Next Top Model]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellino |first=Damian |date=October 20, 2016 |title=The reinvented America's Next Top Model cycle 23 will premiere on December 12th |work=VH1 |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/hx83cc/americas-next-top-model-cycle-23-premiere-december-12 |url-status=live |access-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021003224/http://www.vh1.com/news/287383/americas-next-top-model-cycle-23-premiere-december-12/ |archive-date=October 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=VH1 Welcomes Back Supermodel Ashley Graham, 'Paper' Magazine's Drew Elliott and Image Architect Law Roach to Join Host Tyra Banks for the New Cycle of 'America's Next Top Model' |date=May 12, 2017 |publisher=VH1 |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2017/05/12/vh1-welcomes-back-ashley-graham-drew-elliott-and-law-roach-to-join-host-tyra-banks-for-the-new-cycle-of-americas-next-top-model-402210/20170512vh101/ |access-date=October 3, 2017 |via=The FutonCritic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellino |first=Damian |date=March 16, 2017 |title=Tyra Banks Will Return as Host of America's Next Top Model |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/3haz1l/tyra-banks-will-return-as-host-of-americas-next-top-model |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317014847/http://www.vh1.com/news/305717/tyra-banks-will-return-as-host-of-americas-next-top-model/ |archive-date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |publisher=VH1. Viacom}}</ref>

VH1 has seen further shifts to its programming as part of its parent company's 2017 restructuring plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=February 9, 2017 |title=Viacom CEO Supports Paramount And Non-Core Networks – But For How Long? |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/viacom-ceo-bob-bakish-supports-paramount-non-core-networks-how-long-1201906682/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224140150/https://deadline.com/2017/02/viacom-ceo-bob-bakish-supports-paramount-non-core-networks-how-long-1201906682/ |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> Beginning with its [[RuPaul's Drag Race (season 9)|ninth season]], [[Logo TV]] original series ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' was moved to VH1.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=LOGO'S "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE" GETS A FRIDAY NIGHT MAKEOVER ON VH1 |date=March 1, 2017 |publisher=Logo Press |url=https://press.logotv.com/press-releases/2017/03/01/logos-rupauls-drag-race-gets-a-friday-night-makeover-on-vh1 |access-date=August 29, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829180758/https://press.logotv.com/press-releases/2017/03/01/logos-rupauls-drag-race-gets-a-friday-night-makeover-on-vh1 |archive-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, as part of an expansion of MTV's ''[[Wild 'n Out]]'', new episodes premiered on VH1 from July 7, 2019, to September 15, 2019.<ref name="wild">{{Cite press release |title=MTV's "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out" Expands to VH1 for Summer Stunt |publisher=The Futon Critic |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/06/20/mtvs-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-expands-to-vh1-for-summer-stunt-622415/20190620mtv01/ |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Out |first=Wild 'N |date=June 19, 2019 |title=This is NOT a test ALL NEW #WildNOut x @VH1 starting SUNDAY, July 7th at 7/6c pic.twitter.com/VyI1C310Wh |url=https://twitter.com/wildnout/status/1141504687780323328 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309004030/https://twitter.com/wildnout/status/1141504687780323328 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2019 |website=@wildnout |language=en}}</ref>


In the 2000s, VH1 would begin to scale down its music offerings, while shifting its focus to pop-culture and nostalgia-based programming; including [[reality television]] shows focused on [[celebrities]], and various documentaries and panel shows. Headlining this programming shift would be VH1's ''Celebreality'' block, featuring ''[[The Surreal Life]]'' & its franchise of various spinoffs. One spin off, ''[[Flavor of Love]]'', proved to be a ratings success, and is cited by observers as the beginning of the network's programming leaning towards shows about African-American personalities (such as the ''[[Basketball Wives]]'' and ''[[Black Ink Crew]]'' franchises); similar to [[BET]] and its [[BET Media Group|sister networks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Once You Go Black: VH1 and the Growing Power of Black TV Viewers |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/vh1-and-black-viewers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220022723/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/vh1-and-black-viewers |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Why VH1 Gets to Be Black Without the Burden |url=https://www.theroot.com/why-vh1-gets-to-be-black-without-the-burden-1790877558 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815195120/https://www.theroot.com/why-vh1-gets-to-be-black-without-the-burden-1790877558 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |website=[[The Root (magazine)|The Root]]}}</ref> In 2011, VH1 debuted the [[Love & Hip Hop: New York|first installment]] of the ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'' franchise; which would go on to become the network's longest-running program.
=== Shift to BET (2022–present) ===
On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to the [[BET Networks|BET Media Group]] under [[Scott Mills (businessman)|Scott Mills]].<ref name="BET move"/> The move reunited the network with [[BET Soul]], while also splitting them from [[MTV]] and its siblings (including the formerly-named [[VH1 Classic]] and [[VH1 Country]]). On December 12, 2022, it was announced that future ''Drag Race'' seasons would move to MTV, though the ''Celebrity'' edition would remain on VH1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/rupauls-drag-race-mtv-global-all-stars-1235457468/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race' Moves to MTV, Launches 'Global All Stars' And Editions in Brazil, Germany, Mexico|last=Hailu|first=Selome|date=12 December 2022|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>


In April 2023, it was announced that ''[[Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta]]'' would move to [[MTV]] for its [[List_of_Love_%26_Hip_Hop:_Atlanta_episodes#Season_11_(2023–24)|eleventh season]]; which premiered on June 13, 2023.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/vh1-shows-including-love-amp-hip-hop-atlanta-move-to-mtv-1235321572/|title=VH1 Shows Including 'Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta' Move To MTV|publisher=Deadline|date=11 April 2023}}</ref>
On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to the [[BET Media Group]] under [[Scott Mills (businessman)|Scott Mills]].<ref name="BET move">{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2022-11-09 |title=VH1 Shifts From Paramount Media Networks To BET Media Group Under Scott Mills |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/vh1-shifts-bet-media-group-scott-mills-paramount-media-networks-1235167972/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Programming ==
== Programming ==
{{further|List of programs broadcast by VH1}}
{{further|List of programs broadcast by VH1}}
Original programming currently seen on VH1 includes the ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'' and the ''[[Basketball Wives]]'' franchises. Other notable shows and franchisees that have aired on the network include ''[[Black Ink Crew]]'', ''[[The Impact: New York]]'' (a spinoff of [[BET+]]'s ''[[The Impact: Atlanta]]''), ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' (which was moved over from [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]], and aired on VH1 from 2017–2022), reruns and new episodes of ''[[Wild 'n Out|Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out]]'' (which originated on [[MTV]]), and ''[[Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party]]''.<ref name="wild" />
Original programming currently seen on VH1 includes the ''[[Love & Hip Hop]]'' and the ''[[Basketball Wives]]'' franchises. Other notable shows and franchisees that have aired on the network include ''[[Black Ink Crew]]'', ''[[The Impact: New York]]'' (a spinoff of [[BET+]]'s ''[[The Impact: Atlanta]]''), ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' (which was moved over from [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]], and aired on VH1 from 2017–2022), reruns and new episodes of ''[[Wild 'n Out|Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out]]'' (which originated on [[MTV]]), and ''[[Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party]]''.<ref name="wild">{{Cite press release |title=MTV's "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out" Expands to VH1 for Summer Stunt |publisher=The Futon Critic |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/06/20/mtvs-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-expands-to-vh1-for-summer-stunt-622415/20190620mtv01/ |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>


Since the 2010's, and prior to its move to [[BET Networks|BET]], VH1's programming had shifted towards urban music genres and African-American personalities.
Since the 2010's, and prior to its move to [[BET Networks|BET]], VH1's programming had shifted towards urban music genres and African-American personalities.
Line 241: Line 75:


=== Sister channels in the U.S. ===
=== Sister channels in the U.S. ===
{{further|List of MTV channels}}
{{further|List of Paramount channels}}
VH1 has launched spinoff digital networks as part of ''The [[MTV]] Suite''. Initially, four VH1 spinoff networks were formed, with another being made later on. By August 2016, all of VH1's spinoffs had been realigned with either MTV, [[BET]], or [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] or were shuttered altogether.
VH1 initially launched four spinoff digital networks as part of ''The [[MTV]] Suite'', with another being launched at a later date. By August 2016, these channels spinoffs had either been realigned under the MTV, [[BET]], or [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] branding, or were shuttered altogether.
* '''VH1 Classic''': Music videos primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, but also the 1960s and 1990s, concert footage, vintage movies, and original programming focused on [[adult hits]], [[classic hits]] and [[classic rock]] music. Rebranded as [[MTV Classic (American TV network)|MTV Classic]] on August 1, 2016, in honor of [[MTV]]'s 35th anniversary.
* '''VH1 Classic''': Music videos primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, but also the 1960s and 1990s, concert footage, vintage movies, and original programming focused on [[adult hits]], [[classic hits]] and [[classic rock]] music. Rebranded as [[MTV Classic (American TV network)|MTV Classic]] on August 1, 2016, in honor of [[MTV]]'s 35th anniversary.
* '''[[VH1 MegaHits]]''': A channel which played mostly top 40 [[adult contemporary]] videos from throughout VH1's history, from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Due to low viewership, the network was discontinued. The satellite space was utilized by corporate parent MTV Networks to launch the LGBTQ network [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]].
* '''VH1 Country''': Continuous [[country music]] videos. Rebranded as [[CMT Music|CMT Pure Country]] under [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] on Memorial Day 2006.
* '''[[VH1 MegaHits]]''': A channel which played mostly top 40 [[adult contemporary]] videos from throughout VH1's history, from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Due to low viewership, the network was discontinued. The satellite space was utilized by MTV Networks to launch the [[LGBTQ]] network [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]].
* '''VH1 Soul''': Classic and neo-[[soul music]] videos from the past and today. Rebranded as [[BET Soul]] under the control of [[BET Networks]] on December 28, 2015.
* '''VH1 Soul''': Classic and neo-[[soul music]] videos from the past and today. Rebranded as [[BET Soul]] under [[BET Media Group|BET]] on December 28, 2015.
* '''[[VH1 Uno]]''': A Spanish language channel which mostly composed of music videos of Latin pop, rock, and traditional ballads, tropical, salsa and merengue music. Discontinued February 2, 2008, by MTV Networks to expand normal distribution of [[MTVU]] beyond college campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MTV Networks discontinues VH1 Uno |url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU12729012008-1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208171939/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU12729012008-1.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=June 27, 2011}}</ref>
* '''[[VH1 Uno]]''': A Spanish language channel which mostly composed of music videos of Latin pop, rock, and traditional ballads, tropical, salsa and merengue music. Discontinued February 2, 2008, by MTV Networks to expand normal distribution of [[MTVU]] beyond college campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MTV Networks discontinues VH1 Uno |url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU12729012008-1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208171939/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU12729012008-1.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=June 27, 2011}}</ref>
* '''VH1 Country''': Continuous [[country music]] videos; moved under [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]'s editorial control and renamed [[CMT Music|CMT Pure Country]] on Memorial Day 2006.


=== Internet ===
=== Internet ===

Latest revision as of 22:33, 14 October 2024

VH1
The VH1 Logo used since 2016, with the wordmark used since 2013
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersNew York City
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerParamount Global
ParentBET Media Group
(CBS Entertainment Group)[1]
Sister channels
List
History
LaunchedJanuary 1, 1985; 39 years ago (1985-01-01)
ReplacedCable Music Channel
Former namesVH-1/VH-1: Video Hits One
1985–1994
VH1: Music First
1994–2003
Links
Websitewww.vh1.com Edit this at Wikidata
Availability
Streaming media
Sling TV, Philo, YouTube TV, Vidgo TV, FuboTV, HuluInternet Protocol television

VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the BET Media Group subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group based in New York City. The network was originally owned by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment; a division of Warner Communications, and the original owner of then-sister channel MTV at the time. It was launched in the channel space of Turner Broadcasting System's short-lived Cable Music Channel.

VH1 was originally conceived to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos targeting a slightly older demographic focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music.[2] Like MTV, VH1 ultimately drifted away from music and into reality television programming; albeit with a focus on music personalities, celebrities, and shows targeting African-American audiences. VH1 is best known for franchises such as Behind the Music, the I Love… series, the Celebreality block, Love & Hip Hop, and Basketball Wives.

As of December 2023, VH1 is available in approximately 67,481,000 American households;[3] down from 90.2 million in January 2016.[4]

History

[edit]
Main article: History of VH1
Part of a series on
MTV
Programs on MTV
MTV personalities
Censorship on MTV
MTV Generation
MTV News

VH1, an acronym for Video Hits One, launched on January 1, 1985 over the channel space of Turner's Cable Music Channel.[5][6] The channel originally focused on music and programming aimed at older audiences than its sibling channel at the time, MTV.[7]

On August 27, 1985, parent company Warner Communications sold 31% of VH1 and its siblings (MTV and Nickelodeon; which were already divested by Warner into MTV Networks) to Viacom.[8][9] Viacom would eventually buy the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $326 million on May 20, 1986.[10][11] By 1989, VH1's music programming would cater to Top 40, adult contemporary, classic rock, and 1980s mainstream pop.[12] During the 1990s, VH1 would gain popularity for original music-related programs such as Pop-Up Video and Behind the Music.

In the 2000s, VH1 would begin to scale down its music offerings, while shifting its focus to pop-culture and nostalgia-based programming; including reality television shows focused on celebrities, and various documentaries and panel shows. Headlining this programming shift would be VH1's Celebreality block, featuring The Surreal Life & its franchise of various spinoffs. One spin off, Flavor of Love, proved to be a ratings success, and is cited by observers as the beginning of the network's programming leaning towards shows about African-American personalities (such as the Basketball Wives and Black Ink Crew franchises); similar to BET and its sister networks.[13][14] In 2011, VH1 debuted the first installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise; which would go on to become the network's longest-running program.

On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to the BET Media Group under Scott Mills.[1]

Programming

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Further information: List of programs broadcast by VH1

Original programming currently seen on VH1 includes the Love & Hip Hop and the Basketball Wives franchises. Other notable shows and franchisees that have aired on the network include Black Ink Crew, The Impact: New York (a spinoff of BET+'s The Impact: Atlanta), RuPaul's Drag Race (which was moved over from Logo, and aired on VH1 from 2017–2022), reruns and new episodes of Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (which originated on MTV), and Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party.[15]

Since the 2010's, and prior to its move to BET, VH1's programming had shifted towards urban music genres and African-American personalities.

Sister and international networks

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VH1 HD

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VH1 HD (launched in 2005) is a 1080i high-definition feed, with all major providers carrying the network; as of 2016 this feed is downgraded at a provider's headend to provide the network's standard definition channel on systems.

Sister channels in the U.S.

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Further information: List of Paramount channels

VH1 initially launched four spinoff digital networks as part of The MTV Suite, with another being launched at a later date. By August 2016, these channels spinoffs had either been realigned under the MTV, BET, or CMT branding, or were shuttered altogether.

  • VH1 Classic: Music videos primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, but also the 1960s and 1990s, concert footage, vintage movies, and original programming focused on adult hits, classic hits and classic rock music. Rebranded as MTV Classic on August 1, 2016, in honor of MTV's 35th anniversary.
  • VH1 Country: Continuous country music videos. Rebranded as CMT Pure Country under CMT on Memorial Day 2006.
  • VH1 MegaHits: A channel which played mostly top 40 adult contemporary videos from throughout VH1's history, from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Due to low viewership, the network was discontinued. The satellite space was utilized by MTV Networks to launch the LGBTQ network Logo.
  • VH1 Soul: Classic and neo-soul music videos from the past and today. Rebranded as BET Soul under BET on December 28, 2015.
  • VH1 Uno: A Spanish language channel which mostly composed of music videos of Latin pop, rock, and traditional ballads, tropical, salsa and merengue music. Discontinued February 2, 2008, by MTV Networks to expand normal distribution of MTVU beyond college campuses.[16]

Internet

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VH1's website launched in the mid-1990s. In 2003, MTV Networks VSPOT, a broadband video channel that followed the model of MTV Overdrive, containing the shows aired by VH1 and music videos. Like Overdrive, it was coolly received due to a heavy reliance on broadband and advanced web technologies. VH1 returned to a traditional-style website in late 2007.

International networks

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Further information: List of MTV channels

As with other MTV channels, Paramount Global has broadcast international versions of VH1, besides VH1 India they all closed down however:

  • VH1 Adria: By the end of September 2012, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Croatia got their regional version of VH1 called VH1 Adria.[17][18] However, due to financial issues, the channel closed in January 2015 and was replaced by the feed of VH1 Europe.
  • VH1 Australia: Since March (April for Optus customers) 2004, VH1 has been available in Australia on Foxtel, Optus Television and Austar. It is also available on the SelecTv pay-TV platform. On May 1, 2010, VH1 Australia was re-branded as MTV Classic.
  • VH1 Brasil: The Portuguese-language version of VH1 was launched in Brazil on May 1, 2004. However, VH1 Soul had been available to digital cable subscribers since 2004. In 2007 VH1 Soul stopped being available in Brazil. In 2009 the version HD of VH1 was launched. It closed down on November 14, 2014.
  • VH1 Mega Hits Brazil: Replaced the Brazilian version of MTV Hits. The channel plays 24h chart hits non-stop. Closed down on July 31, 2020.
  • VH1 Christmas: A special channel that played Christmas music videos. VH1 Christmas aired on MTV Rocks in the UK and Ireland during the Christmas period annually.
  • VH1 Denmark: The Danish version of VH1 was launched in Denmark on March 15, 2008. Today the programming still consist of music videos unlike its American counterpart. This was the only international VH1 under Paramount's responsibility, since the Italian version closed in January 2024 until 1 April 2024 and it has been replaced by NickMusic.[19]
  • VH1 Europe: The Pan-European VH1 channel has broadcast in the European continent as well as Africa and the Middle East. This channel also airs in Russia and many countries of Latin America, albeit only in Russia it has the "16+" icon on the bottom-right, due to Russia's broadcasting laws. VH1 Europe was replaced with MTV 00s on August 2, 2021.
  • VH1 Export: VH1 Export is the technical name used for the version of VH1 European available in the Middle East, Africa, and the Levant territories broadcasting via satellite, exclusively from the OSN pay-TV network. In Africa (on DStv), the channel is exactly the same as VH1 European, but with different adverts. Also VH1 Export has ceased existing on August 2, 2021, and has been replaced by MTV 00s.
  • VH-1 Germany: In 1995 to 2001, a German-language version of VH-1 was broadcast, featuring more adult music than MTV, and using the original 1985 to 1987 US logo. It proved unsuccessful and eventually had to make way for a non-stop music channel aimed at teenagers called MTV2 Pop.
  • VH1 India: In December 2004, MTV India and Zee-Turner teamed up to bring VH1 to India (later owned by Viacom18). It is the only version of VH1 that currently uses the 2003 branding. It also airs MTV international shows due to MTV India only airing Indian originals.
  • VH1 Indonesia: In Indonesia, VH1 programming were aired on MTV Indonesia at 4 until 8 pm, and on local terrestrial channels such as JakTV, Jakarta, STV Bandung, TV Borobudur, Semarang, TATV, Solo, Batam TV, Batam, and Makassar TV, Makassar and also a full link channel seen on satellite PALAPA C2.
  • VH1 Italy: Launched in July 2016, which replaced MTV Music on DTT, which sold the main MTV station to Sky Italia on August 1, 2015. The channel ceased its broadcast on January 7, 2024.[20]
  • VH1 Latin America: On April 1, 2004, VH1 Latin America joined MTV and Nickelodeon Latin America targeting audiences 25–49 years old. Until then, the VH1 main channel available for Latin America was the original US version. The Spanish-language channel is tailored for the market and feature a mix of music and entertainment with local and international-recording artists, as well as original programming. VH1 Latin America closed down on October 7, 2020, being replaced by its European counterpart.
  • VH1 Pakistan: It was launched in 2008 by Viacom as a joint venture with ARY Digital Network. However, in 2009, the channel was closed due to low ratings and repeated shows. [citation needed]
  • VH1 Polska: Launched (or rather renamed) on December 1, 2005. The channel was aimed at people in Poland over 25. The channel was formerly known as "MTV Classic" and (especially in its last months) was the same as present VH1, airing the same programs for the same target group. VH1 Polska closed down in March 2020 being replaced by VH1 Europe.
  • VH1 Russia: VH1 Russia launched on December 2, 2005. It ceased broadcasting on July 1, 2010, and was replaced by the European VH1 feed.
  • VH1 UK: VH1 UK targeted 25–44 years old and had much of the same content as the main U.S. channel. From 2008 until the last few years of its existence, the channel played music videos, mostly prominently countdowns and artist playlists. However, it shifted its focus to reality and travel shows, ending up with re-runs of Are You the One? and Channel 5 's Cruising With Jane McDonald,[21] when it closed down on January 7, 2020. In addition to VH1, there were two sister stations in the UK: VH1 Classic (now MTV Classic) and VH2 (now closed).

In Canada, CHUM Limited launched MuchMoreMusic, a sister channel to MuchMusic (which was considered to be MTV's Canadian counter-part), in 1998. The channel would air the majority of VH1's music and reality programming until 2013.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (November 9, 2022). "VH1 Shifts From Paramount Media Networks To BET Media Group Under Scott Mills". Deadline. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Sherwood, Rick (October 5, 1984). "VH-1 wants adult video viewers". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). (New York Times). p. 11.
  3. ^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: January 2016". Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Warner takes MTV, Nickelodeon public" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. June 25, 1984. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ "BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks". The New York Times. July 19, 1985. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  7. ^ Becker, Anne (May 3, 2009). "VH1 Hits a New High Note". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
  8. ^ "Viacom to Buy Warner Stake In Cable Units". The Washington Post. August 27, 1985.
  9. ^ "Viacom gets its MTV (page 50)" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. September 2, 1985. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (September 17, 1986). "VIACOM CHIEF LEADS GROUP'S BUYOUT BID (Published 1986)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 23, 2021. In November 1985, Viacom acquired MTV Networks for $326 million in cash and warrants. One-third of MTV was publicly owned; the rest was owned by Warner Communications and the American Express Company. At the same time, Viacom bought 50 percent of Showtime, the pay television service, that it did not already own for $184 million.
  11. ^ "Viacom has bought MTV and Showtime/TMC" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. May 20, 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "1991 VH1 Commercials". YouTube. October 27, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "Once You Go Black: VH1 and the Growing Power of Black TV Viewers". Complex. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Why VH1 Gets to Be Black Without the Burden". The Root. October 29, 2014. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "MTV's "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out" Expands to VH1 for Summer Stunt" (Press release). The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "MTV Networks discontinues VH1 Uno". Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  17. ^ "Blic Online | Srbija dobija svoj VH1 kanal". Blic.rs. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  18. ^ "Vh1 Adria". Facebook. October 19, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "Norlys varsler prisstigning og kanalændringer på tv-pakker fra 1. marts - den lille tv-pakke stiger med 45,- / måned". digitalt.tv (in Danish). January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Salaris, Marco (January 3, 2024). "VH1 cessa le trasmissioni tv domenica 7 gennaio 2024". TvBlog (in Italian). Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ^ TVEpg.eu. "VH1 - Cruising With Jane McDonald - Sat 28 Dec 2019 15:05 GMT". tvepg.eu. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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