MTV Launched 35 Years Ago Monday With 'Video Killed The Radio Star'

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Thirty-five years ago, MTV launched with its first video: the aptly titled “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. That same video would have the honor of being the millionth video played on Feb. 27, 2000. Today, MTV hardly plays any music at all, but to celebrate their birthday, the network streamed its very first hour of programming via Facebook Live on Monday.

The network has reinvented itself time and again over last three and a half decades and long since ditched its original core music programing in favor of scripted dramas and reality television. (Of course, there’s no reason to sit around waiting for your favorite video to air now that you can watch it on YouTube.)

While the network’s original music-video-heavy programming likely isn’t coming back, MTV is doubling down on the shows that replaced those videos and banking on nostalgia for shows like “Daria” and “Beavis and Butt-head” with the launch of MTV Classic.

Here’s to another 35 years.