1997 - 2006
1997
· On July 1 at 6am MTV UK & Ireland launches as a stand-alone channel. MTV Europe can no longer be seen in the UK, and the channel takes on a distinctly more homegrown feel, with British, Irish and American music dominating. The first video to be shown on MTV UK & Ireland is a specially edited version of The Lightning Seeds’ ‘Three Lions’. The original line up of presenters includes Donna Air, Richard Blackwood and Cat Deeley.
· MTV Networks Europe celebrates a decade of broadcasting in Europe, and is now available in over 58 million homes.
· MTV.co.uk website launches.
1998
· MTV2 Europe launches on the internet and digital TV in October as an interactive music channel, giving viewers and artists the chance to program their own hour of videos via the web.
· MTV Europe in association with UNAIDS and the World Bank, produces Staying Alive,' a documentary focusing on HIV/AIDS.
1999
· Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop launch Noggin on February 2.
· Nickelodeon Games and Sports (Nickelodeon GAS) launches on March 1.
· Nickelodeon launches in Spain on March 1.
· MTV Europe launches three 24-hour digital channels in the UK on 1 July: MTV Base, MTV Extra, and VH1 Classic.
· Nickelodeon UK launches Nick Jr, and Nick Replay on September 1.
· MTV launches Broadcast Services, allowing external companies to utilise MTV’s technical facilities and expertise for the first time.
2000
· The seventh MTV Europe Music Awards is staged at The Globe, Stockholm, with performances from Madonna and U2.
2001
· On the 20th April, MTV Networks UK & Ireland launches its seventh digital channel, and the country’s first TV channel dedicated to dance music.
· MTV Extra is renamed MTV Hits, and is now a 24 hour dedicated pop music channel.
· In May, MTV acquires TMF, its biggest rival in the Netherlands and Dutch speaking territories.
2002
· Nicktoons TV launches in the UK on May 1.
· Nickelodeon buys out the Children's Television Workshops' share of Noggin, making it 100% Nickelodeon.
· MTV Hits launches a groundbreaking 24-hour interactive TV (iTV) service on the Sky digital platform. As the first 24/7 interactive music TV service available in the UK, it allows viewers to enter daily competitions, win merchandise and electronic goods, check out the latest gossip from the world’s biggest acts, and even slap virtual stickers over their favourite stars and videos.
· MTV Europe launches TMF UK as a 24-hour music channel on the Freeview platform on October 3.
2003
· Paramount Comedy 2 launches on Sky Digital. Rather than broadcasting on a time-shifted basis, it shows programmes at different times.
· TRL launches in the UK – a daily live show from the heart of London and becomes the UK’s premier daily youth destination with interviews and live performance from the world’s biggest stars.
· MTV Networks acquires 50% of the French gaming channel Game One in a partnership with Atari in June.
· VH2 in the UK launches on December 16.
2004
· Meeting Mandela: A Staying Alive Special, wins 'Best Popular Feature' at the One World Media Awards held in London on June 10.
2005
· MTV Base, MTV’s first pan-African music channel and MTV Networks’ 100th television channel worldwide, launched on 22 February 2005. The long-anticipated 24-hour music channel provides young Africans with their own bespoke MTV channel for the first time, and linking African viewers to MTV’s global network of music channels.
· UK Prime Minister and Chair of the G8 summit Tony Blair and Live8’s leading force Bob Geldof took tough questions on African poverty, debt relief and Bush policies on climate control from MTV viewers representing 24 countries around the world – including 7 African nations in MTV’s ‘All Eyes on Tony Blair’ show.
· Paramount Comedy + 1 launches, broadcasting programmes an hour after Paramount Comedy.
2006
· MTV Networks UK & Ireland, owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) today unveils MTV Flux, the ultimate on-screen, multi-platform entertainment experience which puts the audience in control. The launch of Flux takes the concept of virtual communities to an entirely new level where Flux members can upload their own content on to television, be part of an online interactive community and ultimately control their very own TV channel. In a virtual community which knows no bounds, users will be able to ‘flux’ by mouse, by mobile and by remote control.
2007
· MTV ®: 'Rated and Recommended' - the brand new entertainment channel from MTV Networks UK & Ireland - launched on November 8th 2007.
· MTV Networks International Launches First Youth-Focused, Global, Multi-Platform Climate Change Campaign - MTV Switch
