VH-1 was a localized German version of the Viacom channel VH1 that was on air from 1995 to 2001. Due to legal conflicts with ARD, VH1 had to use the January 1985-1987 American logo rather than the then-current logo of the American incarnation. With a focus on adult-oriented pop music, VH-1 imported many programmes from its American sister channel, such as Pop-Up Video and Behind the Music, but also produced local content in its formative years.
Distribution proved difficult, as VH1 typically had to share a frequency with other channels on cable and satellite systems, usually Viacom's own Nickelodeon children's channel, which was itself discontinued in 1998.
On 1 May 2001, the German VH1 merged with VH1 Export to form the Pan-European VH1 channel.[1] The VH1 channel slot was replaced by MTV2 Pop, which itself was replaced by Nickelodeon (Germany) in 2005.
