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Fan-Built ‘MTV Rewind’ Recreates MTV’s Music-Video Era After International Channel Closures

The browser-based tribute offers curated, algorithm-free video streams that use MTV branding without official affiliation.

Overview

  • Created by a developer known as FlexasaurusRex in about 48 hours, MTV Rewind is an independent, non-commercial project with a site disclaimer stating no tie to MTV or Paramount.
  • The web app organizes roughly 33,000-plus videos into decade feeds and legacy program channels including 120 Minutes, Yo! MTV Raps, Headbangers Ball, Unplugged, and a recreation of MTV’s first day in 1981.
  • Its database draws on IMVDb while playback streams from YouTube, and the experience includes era-appropriate vintage commercials with no logins, targeted ads, or recommendation algorithms.
  • Paramount shut down several 24/7 music-only MTV channels on December 31 in markets such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and parts of Europe and Brazil, while flagship MTV services continue to air largely non-music programming.
  • Paramount has not commented to outlets on the unaffiliated site’s use of the MTV name, and the project has quickly drawn thousands of users since launching in early January.