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. 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; down from 90.2 million in January 2016.

History

VH1, an acronym for Video Hits One, launched on January 1, 1985 over the channel space of Turner's Cable Music Channel. The channel originally focused on music and programming aimed at older audiences than its sibling channel at the time, MTV. 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. Viacom would eventually buy the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $326 million on May 20, 1986. By 1989, VH1's music programming would cater to Top 40, adult contemporary, classic rock, and 1980s mainstream pop. 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. 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.

Programming

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. 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

VH1 HD

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.

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.

Internet

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

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