MTV

Some people, mainly parents and teachers, say MTV is like fast food. (It´s easy to eat, it tastes good - but too much of it is bad for you!) But kids love it.

When MTV (= MusicTeleVision) started in the USA in 1981 with 24-hour stereo music programmes, it became an overnight success. MTV Europe started in 1987. Now you can watch the channel almost all over the world, in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. The presenters, called VJs ( = video jockeys) are also international and so is the music they play. The fast and exciting programmes are aimed at 16 - 34-year-olds.

When you switch on, you feel at home right away - like in a big happy family. MTV organizes all kinds of competitions for its audience, too. People have won weekends or holiday trips with stars.

But MTV hasn´t just got music, it also shows programmes about other events. As soon as a big film comes to cinemas in Europe there are commercials and programmes about it on MTV.

So MTV is a bit like radio with pictures. You could watch for hours or just tune in for a few songs. You may like it or hate it - but MTV has certainly changed the way young people look at the world.

Red Line New 3, Ernst Klett Verlag, Stuttgart, 1997, page 55