I was 19 the day it launched. The only "shows" I ever watched on MTV were music videos.
MTV= Music Television. Whatever happened to the music part? That is when it was great for me.
The music died when they started putting out programming that catered to a specific audience.
When they launched, had knowledgeable "VJs" commenting on the music, and did not have "shows" = "when MTV was good"!
Remember "MTV News" newsbreaks for rock and pop music news?
Remember waiting for the top of the next even hour (12, 2, 4, 6, etc.) to the see the groundbreaking long-form "Thriller" video in 1983?
Do you remember them playing "Money For Nothing" from Dire Straights and recognizing that, yes, they were MTV playing a video that directly satirized it?
Do you remember the VJs? How many VJs can you name? (Martha Quinn...).
Do you remember the "I want my MTV" commercials to get your cable provider to add it?
Do you hear the music when you visualize the famous flag on the moon MTV station ID promo?
Do you remember NBC trying to catch the wave of MTV's popularity by adding "Friday Night Videos" to its late night lineup?
THAT is when MTV was good!