Many music video television programming concepts had existed since the early 1960s. The Beatles used music videos to promote their recordings initially in the mid-1960s. In 1970, Philadelphia-based DJ Bob Whitney created The Now Explosion, a television series filmed in Atlanta and broadcast in syndication to other local television stations around the United States. MTV's original programming format was created by media executive Robert W. Pittman, who would later become the chief executive officer (CEO) of MTV Networks. Pittman tested the musical format by presenting a 15-minute program. On Saturday, August 1, 1981, at noon Eastern Time, MTV launched with the words “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll” spoken by John Lack, over the countdown scenes. regressive from the launch of Columbia's first space shuttle, which took place at the beginning of the year, and the launch of Apollo 11. These words were soon followed by MTV's original sound theme, a crunching rock song composed by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen, under images of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with a flag featuring the MTV logo changing into various colors, textures and designs. MTV producers Alan Goodman and Fred Seibert used this public domain image sequence as a concept. Seibert said it was initially planned to use Neil Armstrong's quote "One small step," but lawyers told him that Armstrong owns that name and its likes, and because of Armstrong's refusal, the quote was replaced with a sound of beep. See More Videos: Max Headroom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7-gIxENiEY Songs in this TOP 10: VideoJockeys presentation Buggles - Video killed the radio star Pat Benatar - You better run Rod Stewart - She want dance with me The Who - You better you bet Pretenders - Brass in pocket 38 special - Hold on loosely The cars - Double life Phil Collins - In the air tonight Robert Palmer - Looking for clues Steve Nicks - Stop draggin' ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Itw7qBcpxY