Digital TV Guides

MTV

Wednesday 2 February, 2011

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Whether you want some indie-pop or heavy rock, MTV’s list of music channels have it covered. You can watch all your favourite videos, from Arctic Monkeys to ZZ Top, at the touch of a button.

MTV, the pioneer of the music video, should be your first stop for the latest showbiz and music news, as well as the hottest music videos in the charts.

MTV channels are only available in homes with either Sky or Virgin Media TV services, so if you’ve got Freeview or Freesat read on to find out whether you should consider upgrading to a subscription TV package…

MTV channels

Launched in 1981, the first video to show on the channel was The Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star. The channel has gone on to show some of the most defining moments in music history, including the controversial videos from 80s New Romantics Duran Duran and the infamous kiss between Madonna and Britney.

Nowadays MTV broadcasts eight channels in the UK, and has more than just back-to-back music videos. You can watch all the latest music news, get backstage exclusives and watch a load of popular shows like motor makeover show Pimp My Ride and Johnny Knoxville stunt show Jackass.

The different channels on offer are:

• MTV Music - The original channel revamped, catch the latest songs from artists like Lady Gaga, The Wanted and Beyoncé


• MTV Hits - Videos from the official UK top 40 chart, as well as performances from the likes of Justin Bieber and Olly Murs in Live Sessions


• MTV Classic - Click over to MTV Classic for the best of the 80s and 90s, and tune in for World Stage, featuring unforgettable music moments, such as Nirvana’s final performance at Reading Festival


• MTV Base - Home to R ‘n’ B, hip hop and garage, MTV Base features videos from superstars Rhianna, Kayne West and Tinchy Stryder


• MTV Dance - Get the party started with videos from Ke$ha, Cascada and Dizzee Rascal, and dance away to clubbing anthems from the 80s, 90s and noughties


• MTV Rocks - Tune in to the official rock UK chart for an exclusive countdown of the week’s best selling rock music from Kings Of Leon, Deftones and Biffy Clyro


• MTVN HD - Europe’s first high-definition (HD) music channel, MTVN HD has a round-up of all the best music videos and performances from the other channels, shown in crystal clear HD


• VH1 - If you’re looking for retro rock songs or smooth classics, head over to VH1. The channel has videos from some of the world’s biggest artists, including Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

How to get MTV

MTV channels are only available to homes with pay TV. Sky TV (www.sky.co.uk) customers can get MTV with the Sky Entertainment or the full range of MTV channels by signing up to the Sky Extra.

MTVN HD, the high-definition music channel is also available to customers taking the Sky Extra and the Sky HD pack for an extra £10.25 a month.

Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) homes can also enjoy their favourite music videos on MTV. Customers that subscribe to the L cable TV package will have access to the standard MTV channel, however customers who get the larger XL package will get MTV Base, MTV Dance, MTV Hits and MTV Rocks too, as well as the high-definition MTVN channel.

MTVN HD is only available if you have a V+HD or V HD set-top box however.

Sky TV packages		Virgin Media TV packages
just £21.50 a month + FREE Sky+ box + £100 M&S voucher + FREE installation	just £31.75 a month* + FREE Sky+HD box + £100 M&S voucher + FREE installation	from £26 a month + FREE V HD Box + £50 Credit	from £46 a month + FREE V HD Box + £50 Credit
Online exclusive Sky TV - pick one viewing pack	Online exclusive Sky TV - pick one viewing pack Sky HD pack	Virgin Media M+ TV - 83 channels Up to 30Mb speed Unlimited downloads FREE UK weekend calls and calls to Virgin mobiles	Virgin Media XL TV - 179 channels Up to 30Mb speed Unlimited downloads FREE UK weekend calls and calls to Virgin mobiles
Visit Sky.com or call 0844 241 1407	Visit Sky.com or call 0844 241 1407	Visit VirginMedia.com	Visit VirginMedia.com