vh1.com
Anyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s is likely familiar with VH1. This was the only other channel on basic cable that was primarily devoted to playing music videos, but VH1 also made a number of iconic shows in the 20th century, such as "Pop Up Video," "Vh1 Story Tellers," "Behind the Music," and "Vh1 Legends." As far as entertainment news is concerned, and particularly musically-based content is concerned, VH1 occupies an important place in the industry.
It is difficult to overstate the influence VH1 has had on music and the entertainment news world. Not only have they been known for their older shows, but VH1 has also adapted well to changing times, remaining popular throughout the 2000s and into the present day.
As recently as a few years ago, Vh1's programming lineup was predominantly made up of shows that were popular during the 1990s. However, in light of the current media landscape, which is more fickle and fleeting, Vh1 has relied on recent and successful programs like Love and Hip Hop, Wild?n Out, RuPaul?s Drag Race, and Martha and Snoop?s Potluck Party Challenge to keep its viewership high.
Some companies were not able to effectively make the switch into the internet age, especially those that found fame in the 1980s and 1990s. However, Vh1 was able to demonstrate precisely how an entertainment company can rebrand for a more youthful audience while also retaining the integrity that it has had throughout its entire existence.
Today, Vh1.com is a site that can provide dependable music and entertainment news for anyone interested in it. With a diverse range of content, Vh1 is a reliable source for information on whatever type of music or entertainment interests you.
History
In its earliest days, Vh1 was conceived as a sort of opposite to MTV. Whereas MTV was loud and in your face, Vh1 aimed to provide an outlet for fans of the softer side of popular music. Thus, during its early years (1985-1990), they focused heavily on artists like Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and Billy Joel (to name just a few).
VH1 initially hoped to appeal to a demographic of people aged 18-35 or older. If MTV was for the kids, VH1 was hoping to provide a music video network for older, more mature viewers. Thus, in addition to playing music videos that these viewers would enjoy, VH1 also frequently played oldies in these years, such as Motown and old concert footage from the 1960s.
This mold was designed by Vh1 in order to create an empire of music content and news for decades. From there, it was only natural for Vh1 to continue their well-established foundation of legendary and classic music through retrospective programs like Vh1 Legends and Behind the Music - cinematic features and profiles of artists with true legacies.
This morning, Vh1 announced a change of focus for itself. In the face of new technologies and a more youth-focused marketplace, the network has switched to a programming lineup that is oriented towards social media: Wild?n Out, a show inspired by rap battle culture.
Design
The Vh1 website has a sophisticated, classy appearance. The clean lines and well-organized structure contribute to this, as does the theme's simple black and white design. It is minimalist and not too flashy, and it is tidy. If I had to use one word to describe the Vh1 website's design, I would probably say elegant.
Vh1.com offers an easy-to-use menu bar at the top of the page that guides you through everything on the site. This includes access to Shows, App, and Watch Live TV. There are no extraneous bells and whistles here, just a quick and easy way to use Vh1.com in the most effective way possible. With plenty of clips and music news and op-eds to browse when you scroll down, Vh1.com is an excellent resource for anyone looking for content on television or music.
Content
I just mentioned that Vh1 offers a blend of music and entertainment news and shows. The majority of what this site offers updates on their own programming- you won't find a whole lot of general music news here unfortunately. At the bottom of the page, sure, they have gone out of their way to include a small section of trending articles from sponsored third-party sites, but even still, the majority of them seem to pertain to Vh1 programming. I suppose you could say that at least as far as the site's content is concerned, Vh1 is a little myopic.
That being said, if your primary interest is watching live TV shows on VH1, their website and app make it as easy as possible. So long as you have a cable provider, that is. As is the case with most TV channels turned streaming sites, VH1 allows you to login via your cable provider in order to watch any and all of their aired shows, as well as tune in to watch VH1 live by clicking the "Watch Live TV" button at the top of the page.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
The website design of Vh1 is elegant and user-friendly. Regardless of the device you are using, you will find that Vh1 has designed their website to be streamlined and easy to use. The website offers live streaming of shows with little to no glitches, as well as archived programming for access whenever you want. For a cable network that got its start catering to nostalgia in the 1980s, Vh1 has been surprisingly successful at keeping up with all of the conveniences of the modern world.
Pricing and Plans
Well, when it comes to the pricing of VH1, there is not a whole lot that I can say. This is because VH1 does not offer their own subscription service. At least not at this time. In order to enjoy all that VH1 has to offer, your price point will be whatever your cable company charges you. So, if you already pay a monthly cable bill, you are good to go. That being said, if you are one of the millions of "cord-cutters" in the world that have foregone traditional television in lieu of all the streaming services available nowadays, VH1 may not be in the cards for you.
Suggestions that I Have for VH1
First, I would like to see Vh1 branch out more. I understand that they are primarily a cable TV network and are expected to focus on their own programming, but it would be nice if they offered more for those of us who do not have cable. More entertainment and music news articles, op-eds, listicles, and think pieces would be a welcomed addition to what this site already has to offer.
I would like Vh1 to start allowing users who do not have a cable subscription to sign up for subscriptions to watch at least some of the content on this site. This is the way of the future, after all, and Vh1 should, once again, adapt to the changing times.
Conclusion
If you are looking to explore any and all of Vh1's current content, this website and app will make it as easy as possible. You might not find much in the way of general music and entertainment content outside of the Vh1 universe, but for everything related to this legendary music video network, it doesn't get much better than this.