Question
The first VH1 logo used from 1985 to 1987 in the USA

What channel did VH1 replace?

Last updated: January 1, 2026

MTV shut down a bunch of its music channels at the end of 2025, but back in 1985, it was still aggressively expanding. The network launched VH1 on January 1, 1985, as a sister channel targeting an older audience that wanted softer pop instead of Twisted Sister. MTV's parent company scooped up the channel space from a competitor that had just crashed and burned after barely a month on the air. What channel did VH1 replace?

Correct Answer: Cable Music Channel

(Source)

Video killed the radio star, and Ted Turner showed up ready to kill the video star. Turner launched Cable Music Channel on October 26, 1984, and celebrated by pressing a giant red button while shouting "Take that, MTV!" The channel was supposed to reach 10 million subscribers and be the wholesome alternative for viewers who thought MTV was too edgy, but they only reached 350,000 subscribers and shut down 35 days later. 

MTV aggressively pursued exclusivity deals with record labels to starve CMC of content, which meant cable providers (that already disliked Turner) had no reason to distribute the upstart channel. Turner sold everything to MTV's parent company for just $1 million, and MTV really rubbed salt in the wound by giving VH1 the same type of programming CMC promised but couldn't deliver.

Share This Trivia

Want More Nostalgia?

Check out our other quizzes and random trivia questions!