View source for MTV2

{{short description|American pay television channel}}
{{About|the American television channel|other uses|MTV2 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox television channel
| type = Sequel channel<br>Music channel (formerly)<br>Entertainment
| name = MTV2
| logo = [[File:MTV2 logo 2013.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = 
| logo_size = 200px
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1996|8|01}}
| owner = [[Paramount Media Networks]] ([[Paramount Skydance|Paramount Skydance Corporation]])
| parent = [[MTV Entertainment Group]]
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterbox (filming)|letterbox]]ed [[480i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| country = United States
| area = United States
| language = English<br />Spanish (via [[Second audio program|SAP]] audio track)
| former_names = M2 (1996–1999)
| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|
* [[Nickelodeon]]
* [[Nick Jr. Channel]]
* [[Nicktoons (American TV channel)|Nicktoons]]
* [[TeenNick]]
* [[CBS]]
*[[CBS Sports Network]]
* [[CBS Sports HQ]]
* [[CBS Sports Golazo Network]]
* [[MTV]]
* [[MTV Tres]]
* [[MTV Live (TV network)|MTV Live]]
* [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|MTV Classic]]
* [[MTVU]]
* [[BET]]
* [[BET Gospel]]
* [[BET Her]]
* [[VH1]]
* [[Comedy Central]]
* [[TV Land]]
* [[Logo TV|Logo]]
* [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]
* [[Pop (American TV channel)|Pop TV]]
* [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
* [[The Movie Channel]]
* [[Flix (TV network)|Flix]]
* [[Paramount Network]]
* [[Smithsonian Channel]]
}}
| replaced = [[The Box (American TV channel)|The Box]] (1985–2001)
| replaced_by = 
| website = {{url|mtv.com/mtv2}}
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service
| online_chan_1 = [[Paramount+]]
| online_serv_2 = Service(s)
| online_chan_2 = [[DirecTV Stream]], [[FuboTV]], [[Hulu#Hulu + Live TV service|Hulu + Live TV]], [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[Sling TV]], [[YouTube TV]]
}}
{{MTV}}
'''MTV2''' (formerly '''M2''') is an American [[pay television]] [[Cable television|channel]] owned by the [[Paramount Media Networks]] division of [[Paramount Skydance|Paramount Skydance Corporation]], through PMN’s [[MTV Entertainment Group]] subdivision.

The channel launched initially as an all-[[music video]] service, once the original [[MTV]] had started to shift its programming.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Malik|first1=Om|title=I Don't Want My MTV|date=November 14, 2015 |url=http://om.co/2015/11/14/i-dont-want-my-mtv/|access-date=February 27, 2016}}</ref> As with its parent network, MTV2's focus on music programming would gradually be downplayed during the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warren|first1=Christina|title=MTV's 30th Anniversary: Has YouTube Killed the Video Star?|url=http://mashable.com/2011/08/01/mtv-30th-anniversary/#EzApPATvkaqf|website=Mashable|date=August 2011 |access-date=February 27, 2016}}</ref> By 2011, MTV2 would primarily target young adult men with original and acquired lifestyle and reality programming, reruns of male-targeting shows from MTV, acquired sitcoms and movies, and a daily block of [[hip hop]] and [[Rock music|rock]] genre videos in the early mornings. 

Due to Viacom's 2017 restructuring plan, MTV2's original programs were eventually moved over to the flagship MTV network, while the former network would drop its music video blocks in November of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/viacom-ceo-bob-bakish-supports-paramount-non-core-networks-how-long-1201906682/|title=Viacom CEO Supports Paramount And Non-Core Networks – But For How Long?|last=Lieberman|first=David|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>

{{As of|2023|11}}, MTV2 is available to approximately 50 million pay television households in the United States-down from its 2013 peak of 82 million households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>

In recent years, MTV2 has lost carriage with the growth of streaming alternatives including its parent company's [[Paramount+]], and has generally been depreciated by Paramount Skydance in current retransmission consent negotiations with cable and streaming providers.

==History==
===1996–1999: Early history as M2===
{{further|List of programs broadcast by MTV2}}
MTV2 began broadcasting as simply '''M2''' on August 1, 1996<ref name="carter">Carter, Bill. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A07E5DE1139F93BA35754C0A960958260 MTV, Listening To Real World, Creates a Spinoff]. ''[[The New York Times]]'': July 8, 1996.</ref> – MTV's 15th anniversary – with [[Beck]]'s "[[Where It's At (Beck song)|Where It's At]]" being the first video to air.<ref>McFarlane, Jim. [http://media.www.volanteonline.com/media/storage/paper468/news/2002/10/16/Verve/Mtv-Should.Drop.music.From.Name-298885.shtml MTV should drop "music" from name]. ''[[The Volante]]'': October 16, 2002.</ref> A near "flip side" of MTV, the original format focused mostly on music and aimed at a slightly older audience (23-year-olds than MTV's 21-year-olds), especially people who do not watch a lot of MTV.<ref>{{cite news |title=MTV to launch new 'flip-side' channel |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19960712-1.2.100.6.2 |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=The Straits Times |agency=The New York Times |date=July 12, 1996}}</ref>

In its first few years on the air, M2 was restricted to [[satellite television]] plus the few, small markets where digital cable was then available, limiting its audience reach to around 12 million homes by 2000.<ref name="second time charm">{{cite web |last=Petrozello |first=Donna |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA16183.html |title=Second-time charm? |publisher=Broadcasting & Cable |date=May 8, 2000 }}</ref> M2 also broadcast live over the internet during its early years, which meant it was similarly ahead of its time in a period when few people had [[broadband]] internet connections.<ref name="carter"/>

M2's early years was known for its playful or ironic programming decisions that underscored the channel's free-wheeling, subversive attitude; on January 1, 1999, M2 played the music video "[[1999 (Prince song)|1999]]" by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] for 24 hours straight.<ref name="takahashi">{{cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Corey |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E7D8153CF933A25751C1A9669C8B63 |title=Television/Radio; Getting Back to MTV's Roots, Courtesy of MTV |work=The New York Times |date= December 10, 2000 }}</ref> M2 quickly gained favor with music insiders, and as its popularity and reputation grew within the music industry, it became common for musicians and record labels to request that their new videos premiere exclusively on M2 rather than MTV. Record companies often asked to have new artists appear on the channel in taped segments with the VJs. The [[Spice Girls]] made their first U.S. television appearance on M2, as did their video for "[[Wannabe]]". At the time of their appearance on M2, the [[girl group]] was a huge success in the [[United Kingdom]], but they were relatively unknown to U.S. audiences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/08/m2-mtv-20th-anniversary-oral-history/|title=I Want My M2: An Oral History of Heaven on Music Television|date=August 1, 2016|website=Spin}}</ref>

Starting on January 1, 2000, in honor of the millennium, MTV2 attempted to play every music video in the MTV library in alphabetical order.<ref name="second time charm"/> While a majority of videos were played, many were skipped over. The special ended in mid-April 2000.<ref name="takahashi"/>

===1999–2005: Relaunch as MTV2===
[[File:MTV2 logo.png|150px|left|thumb|MTV2's logo used from 1997 to 1999.]]
Due in part to the unexpectedly slow roll-out of the fledgling channel, MTV Networks decided to rebrand M2 in the first quarter of 1999, changing the name to '''MTV2'''.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} In 1997, MTV's owner [[Viacom (original)|Viacom]] had bought out the rival music channel [[The Box (American TV channel)|The Box]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McAdams |first=Debroah D. |url= http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA38140.html |title=MTV closes The Box |publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date= October 30, 2000 }}</ref> Starting on January 1, 2001, all households that had received The Box began to receive MTV2 in its place, putting the channel into millions of additional households. MTV2 also began adding [[television commercials]] to its broadcasts; beforehand, subscription providers interrupted MTV2's feed to insert their own ads.<ref name="takahashi"/>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Mtv2 2001.png|thumb|170px|right|MTV2's boxes logo, used from 2001 until 2005.]] -->
A new show hosted by Jancee Dunn called ''MTV2 Request'' aired every weekday between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. and again between 11 p.m. and midnight. All of the videos played on ''MTV2 Request'' were selected by online viewer requests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conformco.com/demos/mtv2_010101/requests.html|title=MTV2 Request archived page|website=Conformo.com|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014105617/http://conformco.com/demos/mtv2_010101/requests.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another new show called ''Control Freak'' began in 2001, airing weekdays from 8 to 9 p.m. It used real-time viewer voting to select the next video to be played on the channel (out of three choices), while the current video was playing.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010816193844/http://www.mtv.com/onair/mtv2/control_freak/index.jhtml MTV2 ControlFreak official site] – still up but not updated</ref> The majority of the daytime schedule still featured a mix of rap, rock, and pop genre videos. By 2003, the network had 50 million subscribers in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last=Albiniak |first=Paige |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA315010.html |title=Viacom irked by Fuse billboard |publisher=Broadcasting & Cable |date=August 1, 2003 }}</ref>

During the [[Memorial Day]] weekend of 2002, MTV2 played a special called ''Increase The Beat''. DJ [[Paul Oakenfold]] hosted the special and played videos from such artists as [[Fatboy Slim]], [[Beastie Boys]], and [[Jay-Z]]. The videos were arranged in order from slowest to fastest, based on the number of beats per minute of the song.<ref>[http://www.centralstation.com.au/articles/shownews.asp?newsid=1216 MTV2 Presents "Increase the Beat Weekend"] CentralStation.com.au: May 20, 2002</ref>

In 2003, Jesse Snider, son of [[Twisted Sister]]'s [[Dee Snider]] was selected as the new host of ''MTV2 Rock'', replacing Abby Gennet. Another new program included ''Track 2'', a series going "behind the scenes" of music videos, and ''Nose Dive'', profiling past popular artists.<ref name="whats new 2003">{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Allison |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA295565.html |title=What's new at MTV2 |publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=April 30, 2003 }}</ref>

In May of that year, MTV2 relaunched the old MTV program ''[[Headbangers Ball]]'', which featured a wide array of heavy metal and hard rock music videos.<ref name="whats new 2003"/> [[Metallica]] hosted the first episode,<ref>Kelter, Christopher J. [http://www.roughedge.com/features/newheadbangersball.htm Report on the New Headbanger's Ball]. RoughEdge.com: 2003.</ref> followed by [[Rob Zombie]] for the next few weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598691/|title=Staind Episode|date=May 17, 2003|website=IMDb.com|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598685/|title=New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Episode|date=May 24, 2003|website=IMDb.com|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598693/|title=Stone Sour Episode|date=May 31, 2003|website=IMDb.com|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598687/|title=Powerman 5000 episode|date=January 1, 2000|website=IMDb.com|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=IMDb}}</ref>

In June, MTV2 began an eight-hour block of hip-hop programming on Sundays called ''Sucker Free Sunday''. Each week, a different guest host served up ''Artist Collections'', countdowns, and other hip-hop music specials.<ref name="whats new 2003"/> In July of that year, the channel also introduced a new advertising campaign – aimed at differentiating itself from its parent network, MTV – featuring [[The Robot Johnson Show#The Talking Baby|The Talking Baby]], a foul-mouthed baby doll operated by [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]-based comedian Sean Keenan.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2086149|title=Pretty Creepy Baby|author=Rob Walker|journal=Slate |date=July 28, 2003 }}</ref>

Around this time, MTV2 sponsored two albums in the ''MTV2 Album Covers'' series, in which a band covers another band's songs. The first was ''Dashboard Confessional/R.E.M.'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/dashboardconfessional/mtv2albumcoversdashboardconfessionalrem|title=Free Music: MTV2 Album Covers: Dashboard Confessional & R.E.M. by Dashboard Confessional – Rhapsody Online<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Rhapsody.com|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref> and the second was ''[[MTV2 Album Covers: Guster/Violent Femmes|Guster/Violent Femmes]]''.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1035033|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry on "MTV2 Album Covers: Guster/Violent Femmes"]</ref>

In early February 2004, MTV2 started to air [[Beavis and Butt-Head]] as a part of its regular programming and its MTV2OONS block, marking the first time the series had aired on TV in the US since around August 1999 on MTV.

===2005–2011: The two-headed dog===
[[File:Mtv2 logo.svg|thumb|Early version of the current logo, used from 2005 to 2013. It was used by the [[MTV2 (Canada)|Canadian version]] until the closure on March 29, 2024.]]
In 2005, MTV2 rebranded with a new logo: a two-headed [[Rottweiler]] dog. [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] reported that the double heads of the dog were made to represent rock and hip-hop, the two sides of music on MTV2.<ref>Garrity, Brian. [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64235/revamped-mtv2-to-focus-on-hip-hop-rock Revamped MTV2 To Focus On Hip-Hop, Rock]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'': February 4, 2005.</ref>

From February 2007, MTV2 began scaling down music programming as a result of its production staff being reduced.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 19, 2007 |title=Broadcasting & Cable |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6417384.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907001551/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6417384.html |archive-date=2008-09-07 |publisher=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> MTV2 would later devote Saturday evenings to rock music, usually during the [[primetime]] hours on Saturdays,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |title=MTV.com – On-Air – MTV2 Week at a Glance |website=[[MTV]] |date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208045712/http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |archive-date=February 8, 2007 }}</ref> but currently the block is shown on late Saturday evenings starting at 10:00&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="mtv2week">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |title=MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows – MTV |website=[[MTV]] |access-date=December 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208045712/http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |archive-date=February 8, 2007 }}</ref> Other formats included a 30-minute block of videos that aired in the early mornings and late nights, as well as the ''No Break Video Hour'', a music video block that excluded [[commercials]], Tuesdays through Thursdays at 10:00&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="mtv2week"/>

MTV2 gave the cast of ''[[Human Giant]]'' free rein of the channel in May for an event called ''Human Giant: 24'', allowing them to program the channel and host from [[MTV]]'s Times Square studios as they see fit for 24 hours, from 12 p.m. on May 18 to 12 p.m. on May 19. Notable guests included [[Fred Armisen]] and [[Bill Hader]] from ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', [[Will Arnett]], [[Michael Cera]], [[Bob Odenkirk]], [[Michael Showalter]], [[Todd Barry]], [[Zach Galifianakis]], [[Tapes 'n Tapes]], and [[Tegan and Sara]]. The live event was the successor to ''[[24 Hours of Love]]'' in 2002, ''[[24 Hours of Foo]]'' in 2005, and a [[Jackassworld.com: 24 Hour Takeover|subsequent Jackass special]] on MTV in early 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/32704|title=Armisen!! Arnett!! Barry!! Cera!! Galifianakis!! Hader!! Odenkirk!! HUMAN GIANT Takes Over MTV...|website=Aintitcool.com|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

Music programming was briefly expanded in June. From 4:30&nbsp;p.m. on June 29 to 1:00&nbsp;a.m. on July 1, 2007, MTV2 played strictly [[music videos]], whether a general block of videos or a specific genre-based block such as ''[[Headbangers Ball]]'' ([[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]) or ''[[Sucker Free]]'' ([[hip-hop]]), for 33 hours and 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |title=MTV.com – On-Air – MTV2 Week at a Glance |website=[[MTV]] |date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629221548/http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv2/weekly.jhtml |archive-date=June 29, 2007 }}</ref> Throughout the month of July 2007, MTV2 broadcast music video programs during [[primetime]] Mondays through Thursdays in its efforts to play more music. In February 2008, MTV2 replaced the 10 p.m. Eastern rebroadcast of ''Elite 8'' with a standard block of music videos.

2008 saw decreased availability for MTV2, as both [[Comcast]] and [[Cox Communications]] moved the channel from their widely received analog cable services to [[digital cable]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Cable_Television.html |title=Cable Television and the Analog to Digital Transition|website=Ezdigitialtv.com|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref>

===2011–2017: Further success with original programming===
In 2011, MTV debuted a new original series called ''[[Guy Code]]'' on November 15.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2011/10/10/mtv2-to-air-original-series-mtv2s-guy-code-the-ultimate-guys-guide-to-the-laws-of-manhood-780503/20111010mtv01/|title=MTV2 to Air Original Series "MTV2's Guy Code" – The Ultimate Guys' Guide to the Laws of Manhood|website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The series closed out its first season as the highest-rated program in network history, amassing significant time period increases among MTV2's core male demographic with a 55% increase among men 12–34 and massive 188% increase in viewership among male teens, as well as a 44% increase among 12- to 34-year-olds overall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2011/11/17/mtv2s-guy-code-delivers-most-watched-p12-34-series-premiere-in-networks-15-year-history-787005/20111117mtv01/|title="MTV2's Guy Code" Delivers Most Watched P12-34 Series Premiere in Network's 15-Year History |website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The second season of ''Guy Code'' closed out its sophomore run on September 25, 2012, as MTV2's highest-rated and most-watched original series ever.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/09/26/mtv2s-guy-code-picked-up-for-third-season-season-two-delivers-highest-rated-and-most-watched-original-series-in-mtv2-history-553011/20120926mtv01/|title="MTV2's Guy Code" Picked Up for Third Season – Season Two Delivers Highest Rated and Most Watched Original Series in MTV2 History|website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

Music programming was seen during the ''AMTV2'' block, which aired Monday-Fridays from 4 to 9 a.m. AMTV2 was blocked in as "MTV2 Jams", which runs from 4AM-8AM Eastern, and "MTV2 Music Mix" (known on-air as ''Morning Music Buzz''), which runs from 8AM-9AM Eastern. "Jams" primarily features hip-hop music videos, while "Music Mix" features a mixture of hip-hop, rock, and alternative videos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/schedule/?ch=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924053455/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/schedule/?ch=2|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2008|title=TV Schedule – Shows, Episodes, and Music Series On TV – MTV|website=Mtv.com|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16024|title=MTV2 Playlist|website=Fmqb.com|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

On October 28, 2012, MTV2 relaunched its ''Sucker Free'' series as ''[[The Week in Jams]]'', followed by additional airings on [[MTV Jams]]. Where ''Sucker Free Countdown'' focused primarily on music, the expanded focus of ''The Week in Jams'' includes interviews, fashion trends, music, sports and hip-hop lifestyle. MTV recruited a stable of hip hop contributors to serve as the hosts of ''The Week in Jams'' and to provide expert commentary across MTV's channels including: mixtape legend, radio personality and television host DJ Envy; industry insider, radio personality and cast member of ''MTV2's Guy Code'' Charlamagne Tha God; [[Motown Records]] recording artist and songwriter Sofi Green; insider Maestro; and radio personality and nationally syndicated nighttime radio host Nessa, to join MTV hip hop expert and MTV News correspondent, [[Sway Calloway]]. The show hasn't been seen on MTV2's schedule since late 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/week_in_jams/video.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101020953/http://www.mtv.com/shows/week_in_jams/video.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2012|title=MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows – MTV|website=MTV|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref>

''MTV Clubland'', an EDM block on the flagship network, premiered on March 30, 2013; it continued to be seen on [[AMTV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/clubland/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204070018/http://www.mtv.com/shows/clubland/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 2012|title=MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows – MTV|website=MTV|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref>

MTV2 next debuted ''[[Nitro Circus Live]]'', an original series featuring 17-time [[X Games]] medalist [[Travis Pastrana]] and his sports-adventure troupe bridging the gap between extreme sports and unabashed daredevil antics, on March 27, 2012 .<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/03/19/nitro-circus-live-roars-back-onto-mtv2-tuesday-march-27th-at-11pm-et-pt-789302/20120319mtv01/|title="Nitro Circus Live" Roars Back Onto MTV2 Tuesday, March 27th at 11PM ET/PT|website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The first season of ''Nitro Circus Live'' became MTV2's highest-rated original series among the network's core demographic of men 12–34 since 2006, delivering an average rating of .42 and a 50% time period increase versus the year prior. In addition, the first season improved its prior year time period by 27%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/08/06/travis-pastranas-nitro-circus-set-to-drop-jaws-again-with-second-season-pick-up-of-nitro-circus-live-on-mtv2-and-premiere-of-nitro-circus-the-movie-3-d-385303/20120806mtv01/|title=Travis Pastrana's Nitro Circus Set to Drop Jaws Again with Second Season Pick-Up of "Nitro Circus Live" on MTV2 and Premiere of "Nitro Circus the Movie 3-D" |website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

On May 22, 2012, MTV2 premiered the comedic game show ''[[Hip Hop Squares]]'', a revitalization of the iconic game show ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'' that featured an original style and personality tailor-made for the network's audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/03/30/mtv2-to-refresh-iconic-game-show-hollywood-squares-for-new-audience-as-hip-hop-squares-610214/20120330mtv02/|title=MTV2 to Refresh Iconic Game Show "Hollywood Squares" for New Audience as "Hip Hop Squares" |website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The show stayed true to the tic-tac-toe format of the original game show, while infusing it with well-known personalities in hip-hop culture. A reboot of the series would premiere on [[VH1]] in 2016.<ref name="vh1premiere">{{cite magazine|title=VH1 Bringing Back 'Hip Hop Squares'|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/vh1-bringing-back-hip-hop-squares/158420|author=Michael Malone|magazine=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=July 28, 2016}}</ref> In addition, MTV2 brought back ''The Dub Magazine Project'' for a second season on October 28, 2012, to give viewers a unique and rarely seen glimpse into the lives and deepest obsessions of entertainment and sports personalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/10/08/mtv2-set-to-debut-all-new-episodes-of-hip-hop-squares-on-tuesday-october-23-at-1100-pm-et-pt-12412/20121008mtv02/|title=MTV2 Set to Debut All New Episodes of "Hip Hop Squares" on Tuesday, October 23 at 11:00 P.M. ET/PT |website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

2013 saw MTV2 expand its original programming slate further with the premieres of ''[[Mac Miller]] and the Most Dope Family'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/12/19/mtv2-begins-production-on-mac-miller-six-part-special-to-debut-in-first-quarter-2013-203013/20121219mtv01/|title=MTV2 Begins Production on Mac Miller Six-Part Special to Debut in First Quarter 2013|website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> the ''Guy Code'' spinoff, [[Guy Court]]; ''Ain't that America''<ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlZFNQ28whoQ |title=Ain't That America With Lil Duval: Teaser 1 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> and ''Charlamagne and Friends''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/07/30/mtv2-starts-the-vmas-pre-party-with-five-days-of-charlamagne-and-friends-beginning-august-20-at-midnight-leading-up-to-the-2013-mtv-video-music-awards-912210/20130730mtv01/|title=MTV2 Starts the VMAs Pre-Party with Five Days of "Charlamagne and Friends" Beginning August 20 at Midnight, Leading Up to the 2013 "MTV Video Music Awards"|website=Thefutoncritic.com |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> After a six-year hiatus, a revival of ''[[Wild 'n Out]]'' premiered on July 9, 2013. The premiere episode of season five had 1.1 million total viewers, the highest-rated telecast in the network's history.<ref>{{cite web |title=MTV2 Greenlights Re-Imagination of 'Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n Out' to Premiere in 2013 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/11/12/mtv2-greenlights-re-imagination-of-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-to-premiere-in-2013-228212/20121112mtv01/ |publisher=The Futon Critic |date=November 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |title=MTV2 Greenlights Re-Imagination of 'Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n Out' to Premiere in 2013 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/12/mtv2-greenlights-re-imagination-of-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-to-premiere-in-2013/157195/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211022144/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/12/mtv2-greenlights-re-imagination-of-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-to-premiere-in-2013/157195/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2012 |publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=November 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bibel|first=Sara|title='Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out' & 'Ain't That America with Lil Duval' Deliver Highest Ratings in MTV2 History|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/11/nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-aint-that-america-with-lil-duval-deliver-highest-ratings-in-mtv2-history/191395/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714083139/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/11/nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-aint-that-america-with-lil-duval-deliver-highest-ratings-in-mtv2-history/191395/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 11, 2013}}</ref> During this time, MTV2 introduced a new version of the "Two-Headed Dog" logo, with the channel's name rendered in a new font.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viacom.com/brands/PublishingImages/GalleryLogos/brand_logo_mtv2.png|format=PNG|title=Photographic image – Font|website=Viacom.com|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|title=MTV2 Refresh 2013|url=https://vimeo.com/101724879|website=Vimeo.com|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, MTV2 debuted ''Jobs That Don't Suck'', a show spotlighting young entrepreneurs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2014/03/25/embrace-your-entrepreneurial-spirit-and-prepare-to-have-fun-at-work-as-mtv2-debuts-comedic-series-jobs-that-dont-suck-on-april-16-483005/20140325mtv01/|title=Embrace Your Entrepreneurial Spirit and Prepare to Have Fun at Work as MTV2 Debuts Comedic Series "Jobs That Don't Suck" on April 16|website=Thefutoncritic.com|access-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> and the weekly series ''Off the Bat from the MLB Fan Cave'', created from MTV's partnership with [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2014/02/26/mtv-and-mlb-announce-sway-fat-joe-chris-distefano-and-melanie-iglesias-will-host-new-series-off-the-bat-from-the-mlb-fan-cave-on-mtv2-in-april-140113/20140226mtv02/|title=Mtv and Mlb Announce Sway, Fat Joe, Chris Distefano and Melanie Iglesias Will Host New Series "Off the Bat From the Mlb Fan Cave" on MTV2 in April|website=Thefutoncritic.com|access-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> On November 11, 2014, MTV2 renewed ''Wild n' Out'' & ''Guy Code'' and greenlit two new series: a comedic game show, ''MTV2's Joking Off'', and a news satire series under the working title ''Number 2 News''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/Pages/MTV2-ORDERS-NEW-SEASONS-OF-HIT-SERIES-NICK-CANNON-PRESENTS-WILD-N-OUT,-GUY-CODE-AND-GROWS-SLATE-OF-ORIGINAL-COMEDIES.aspx|title=MTV2 Orders New Seasons of Hit Series Nick Cannon Presents Wild N Out, Guy Code and Grows Slate of Original Comedies|website=Viacom|access-date=December 15, 2014|archive-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216052337/http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/Pages/MTV2-ORDERS-NEW-SEASONS-OF-HIT-SERIES-NICK-CANNON-PRESENTS-WILD-N-OUT,-GUY-CODE-AND-GROWS-SLATE-OF-ORIGINAL-COMEDIES.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Weeks after the announcement that the [[NBCUniversal]]-owned cable network, [[G4 (American TV network)|G4]], will be shutting down, MTV2 began syndicating the ''[[Marvel Anime]]'' anthology, which previously aired on the former network.<ref name="goldenbelt">{{cite web|url=http://www.gbta.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=310&Itemid=332|title=G4 to be Discontinued|publisher=GBT|access-date=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=387054055873&story_fbid=10152817904505874|title=MTV2 – We're adding something new to the MTV2 mix, Marvel... – |publisher=[[Facebook]]|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-07-23/marvel-anime-to-run-on-g4-in-the-united-states | title=Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States | work=[[Anime News Network]] | date=July 23, 2010 | access-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref>

Because of the popularity of MTV2's original programming, the network was listed as one of Comedy Hype's ''20 Game Changers of Comedy of 2015''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedyhype.com/comedy-news/comedy-hypes-20-game-changers-comedy-2015/|title=COMEDY HYPE'S 20 GAME CHANGERS OF COMEDY 2015|website=Comedytype.com|access-date=December 29, 2014|archive-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230023544/http://www.comedyhype.com/comedy-news/comedy-hypes-20-game-changers-comedy-2015/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Joking Off'' premiered on April 1, 2015, and ''Number 2 News'', renamed ''Not Exactly News'', premiered on June 17, 2015. In the Summer of 2015, MTV2 debuted the reality series, ''[[Kingin' with Tyga]]'', and panel show, ''Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtvpress.com/press-releases/2015/05/20/mtv2_launches_nonstopsummer_with_nick_cannon_charlamagne_and_tyga|title=MTV2 LAUNCHES NONSTOPSUMMER WITH NICK CANNON CHARLAMAGNE AND TYGA|website=MTV Press|access-date=February 16, 2022}}</ref>

===2017–present: Viacom restructuring===
Because of Viacom's 2017 restructuring, in which most of the company's resources were directed towards the flagship MTV network, MTV2 currently has no original programming. In the previous year, several of MTV2's remaining original programs moved to MTV.<ref>{{cite press release |last=McCrary |first=Michelle |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Season Eight of Nick Cannon Presents Wild-N-Out Returns to MTV |url=https://www.mtvpress.com/press-releases/2016/06/09/season-eight-of-nick-cannon-presents-wild-n-out-returns-to-mtv |publisher=MTV |access-date=February 16, 2022}}</ref>

As promotion for the [[2025 MTV Video Music Awards]], MTV2 scheduled a full week of only music video programming from September 1 to the night of the event on September 7, alongside [[MTV Classic (United States)|MTV Classic]], [[MTV Live (TV channel)|MTV Live]], and MTV Biggest Pop on [[Pluto TV]]. It was the first time MTV2 had played music videos since 2017. The week was produced by [[Van Toffler]] and his studio [[Gunpowder & Sky]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2025-06-24 |title=Former MTV Boss Van Toffler Returns to Produce a Week of Programming Leading Up to the VMAs — Including 24/7 Music Videos on MTV2 |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/former-mtv-boss-van-toffler-vmas-produce-1236439470/ |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=2025-08-29 |title=Want Your MTV? 24/7 Music Videos Returning to MTV Channels Ahead of VMAs: Here Are the 9 Artists With the Most Clips |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2025-vmas-mtv-channels-music-videos-24-7-one-week-1236054397/ |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Programming==
{{main|List of programs broadcast by MTV2}}
As of 2025,  MTV2 primarily airs movies, acquired sitcoms and reality shows, as well as reruns of MTV programming and other shows from its sibling owned networks.<ref>[https://www.mtv.com/tv-schedule/mtv2 TV Schedule | Shows, Episodes | MTV]</ref>

==Broadcast affiliates==
From 2001 until 2015, MTV2 had a small network of [[terrestrial television]] affiliates that carried the network for free as a result of MTV's purchase of [[The Box (American TV channel)|The Box]] in 2001. The broadcast network branch slowly thinned out as other parties purchased stations, with some leaving the air as a result of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|digital transition]] dislocating those stations from their channel positions, and in most cases, the [[retransmission consent]] contracts for Viacom's networks, including MTV2, precluded these stations from having any cable or satellite carriage on their own, notwithstanding existing complications involving low-power stations and cable carriage. The over-the-air stations also created a side effect of requiring MTV2's programming to meet the FCC's broadcast [[Watershed (broadcasting)#United States|safe harbor]] and in some cases, educational and informational programming requirements. Eventually, Viacom let their affiliation agreements lapse with their broadcast affiliates, and those other stations have become affiliates of other networks, or ceased all operations.

===Former affiliates===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! City !! Station 
! Station !! Channel 
|-
| [[Anchorage]]
| [[Alaska]]
! scope="row" | K56HV
| 56
|-
| [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]
| [[Alabama]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXA-CD]]
| 2.1
|-
| [[Sacramento]]
| [[California]]
! scope="row" | [[KEZT-CD]]
| 23
|-
| [[Denver]]
| [[Colorado]]
! scope="row" | K55IO
| 55
|-
| [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]]
| rowspan="5" | [[Florida]]
! scope="row" | WBXG-LD
| 33
|-
| [[Jacksonville]]
! scope="row" | WBXJ-CD
| 43.1
|-
| [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
! scope="row" | WZXZ-CD
| 36
|-
| [[Tallahassee]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXT-LD]]
| 43
|-
| [[Tampa]]–[[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]]
! scope="row" | WARP-CD
| 20
|-
| [[Atlanta]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
! scope="row" | WIRE-CD
| 40
|-
| [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]]
! scope="row" | WXSX-LD
| 13
|-
| [[Boise]]
| [[Idaho]]
! scope="row" | [[KIWB-LD]]
| 43
|-
| [[Champaign]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Illinois]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXC-CD]]
| 46
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Chicago]]
! scope="row" | [[WOCH-CD]]
| 28
|-
! scope="row" | [[WOCK-CD]]
| 4
|-
| [[Fort Wayne]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Indiana]]
! scope="row" | WFWC-CD
| 45
|-
| [[Indianapolis]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXI-CD]]
| 47
|-
| [[Louisville]]
| [[Kentucky]]
! scope="row" | WBXV-LD
| 13
|-
| [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]
| rowspan="4" | [[Louisiana]]
! scope="row" | K02QB
| 2
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Baton Rouge]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXH-CD]]
| 39
|-
! scope="row" | [[WCBZ-LP]]
| 7
|-
| [[Shreveport]]
! scope="row" | KBXS-CD
|20
|-
| [[Baltimore]]
| [[Maryland]]
! scope="row" | [[WMJF-CD]]
| 16
|-
| [[Boston]]
| [[Massachusetts]]
! scope="row" | [[WFXZ-CD]]
| 24
|-
| [[Detroit]]
| [[Michigan]]
! scope="row" | [[WUDT-LD]]
| 8
|-
| [[Minneapolis]]–[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]
| [[Minnesota]]
! scope="row" | [[WUMN-LD]]
| 13
|-
| [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]]
| [[Mississippi]]
! scope="row" | WBXK-CA
| 8
|-
| [[Albuquerque]]
| [[New Mexico]]
! scope="row" | [[KRTN-LD]]
| 39
|-
| [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]
| rowspan="3" | [[New York (state)|New York]]
! scope="row" | [[WBXZ-LD]]
| 56
|-
| [[New York City]]
! scope="row" | [[WMBQ-CD]]
| 46
|-
| [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
! scope="row" | [[WWLF-LD]]
| 35
|-
| [[Cleveland]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Ohio]]
! scope="row" | WRAP-LD
| 32
|-
| [[Steubenville]]
! scope="row" | WSSS-LP
| 29
|-
| [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]
! scope="row" | [[WDMY-LD]]
| 38
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Oklahoma City]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Oklahoma]]
! scope="row" | [[KOCY-LD]]
| 48
|-
! scope="row" | KUOT-CD
| 19
|-
| [[Pittsburgh]]
| [[Pennsylvania]]
! scope="row" | WIIC-LD
| 29
|-
| [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]
| [[South Carolina]]
! scope="row" | WCHD-CA
| 49
|-
| [[Nashville]]
| [[Tennessee]]
! scope="row" | [[WIIW-LD]]
| 14
|-
| [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]]
| rowspan="6" | [[Texas]]
! scope="row" | KLMH-LP
| 31
|-
| [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]]
! scope="row" | K24NR
| 45
|-
| [[Lubbock]]
! scope="row" | KYLU-LP
| 49
|-
| [[Midland, Texas|Midland]]
! scope="row" | K21GU
| 21
|-
| [[San Angelo]]
! scope="row" | KZSA-LD
| 43
|-
| [[Victoria, Texas|Victoria]]
! scope="row" | KQZY-LD
| 38
|-
| [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] || rowspan="3" | [[Virginia]]
! scope="row" | [[WVAD-LD]]
| 25
|-
| [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]]
! scope="row" | [[WPEN-LP]]
| 68
|-
| [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]
! scope="row" | WXOB-LP
| 17
|-
| [[Milwaukee]] || [[Wisconsin]]
! scope="row" | [[WMKE-CD]]
| 21
|}

==International versions==
{{further|List of MTV channels}}
In addition to the original MTV2 channel in the United States, there have been a number of other [[MTV Networks]] channels around the world known as MTV2.
* '''Europe''': [[MTV Rocks (European TV channel)|MTV Rocks]], which focused solely on alternative rock and indie, broadcast from London. It was called MTV Two.
* '''Canada''': [[MTV2 (Canadian TV channel)|MTV2]] in Canada was very similar to its American counterpart; however, it had VJs who host shows such as MTV2 Videos (music videos). The original incarnation of MTV2 featured a non-stop freeform mix of music videos as well as a select number of concert performances. It was replaced by ''PunchMuch'' (now known as [[Juicebox (TV channel)|Juicebox]]) in June 2005. It was closed on March 29, 2024.
* '''Germany''': A version of MTV2 was replaced by [[Nickelodeon|Nick]] in September 2005. Unlike the original, [[MTV2 Pop]] was a mainstream channel. However, MTV Rocks is being offered by several pay-TV services.

==See also==
* [[List of MTV channels]]
* [[List of programs broadcast by MTV2]]
* [[MTV]]
* [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|MTV Classic]]
* [[MTVX]]
* [[mtvU]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010909162236/http://www.mtv.com/mtv2 MTV2]

{{Paramount Media Networks}}
{{Paramount Global}}
{{American broadcast television}}

[[Category:Music video networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1996]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:MTV channels]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in the United States]]