![MTV Debuted 38 Years Ago Today, But Only In New Jersey](https://townsquare.media/site/942/files/2019/08/GettyImages-486019814.jpg?w=980&q=75)
MTV Debuted 38 Years Ago Today, But Only In New Jersey
MTV is celebrating it's 38th birthday today, but according to history.com, when the iconic network debuted on Aug. 1, 1981, it was only available in New Jersey...and not even throughout the entire state.
During it's initial broadcast, MTV was only carried by one cable provider in northern New Jersey.
The MTV that debuted in 1981 is very different than the MTV we know today. Originally, the cable TV network played nothing but music videos hosted by "veejays." History.com says that all changed in 1992, when the reality show, The Real World, premiered.
Over the last 25+ years, MTV has continued to add more original programming, including animated shows like Beavis & Butthead and Daria, scripted shows like Teen Wolf and Scream, and lots of reality shows, including The Hills, Teen Mom and Jersey Shore.
Earlier this year, we told you that for the first time ever, the MTV VMA's would take place in New Jersey. The show is happening on Aug. 26 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
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