Just after midnight on August 1st, 1987, a new television channel was born. This channel has turned out to be one of the most significant influences on international youth culture in the last 20 years. MTV was broadcast for the first time from the Roxy Club in Amsterdam to 1\'6 million households. Today, MTV reaches over 250 million homes across five continents. MTV is a youth entertainment channel on cable networks operating 24 hours a day. It offers young people music, videos and a wide variety of programmes. This channel also has the latest graphics and it mirrors the varied lifestyles of the world´s youth. MTV is not only the largest TV channel in Europe, but is actually the biggest in the world.MTV´s influence has also spread into the social and political arena. Surprising the public with the slogan \"Rock the Vote\", it is said that MTV brought an estimated two million young people to the polls in the 1992 American elections. Most of them voted for Clinton. MTV aims at 16-to 25-years-old people across the world and has tackled social issues like AIDS, drug abuse, drunken driving and the environment. The purpose of their campaign is to raise awareness, not to preach sermons to young people.
MTV is not without its critics, however. In the UK, for example, where people are proud of the quality of British television, MTV has been accused of being shallow with hardly and investigative reporting -a light weight channel exporting American culture. Such criticism had been vigorously rejected by representatives of MTV, who argue that the programmes reflect the tastes and culture of local audiences across the world and bring less well-known performers and music onto a global stage.
Whatever your opinion is, one thing is certain: youngsters today are making their own choices. Judging by the viewing ratings, MTV is their choice.
Glossary:
has turned to be: has become
households: homes
has tackled: has spoken about
shallow: superficial
awareness: knowledge
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1. Answer the following questions about the text in your own words
a) When and where did MTV begin?
b) How has MTV grown in the last seven years?
c) Why has MTV been criticised in the UK particularly?
d) Which have been the main accusations against MTV?
2. Say whether these statements are true or false according to the text. Justify your answer with the evidence from the text.
a) People were surprised by the influence of MTV during the American elections.
b) MTV is aimed at all ages -children and adults alike.
3. Vocabulary. Find in the text words or expressions that have the following meanings.
a) was transmitted
b) reflects
c) aim, objective
d) social matters
4. Write a composition of about 80-100 words. Choose one of the topics
a) Music unites young people throughout the world. What is your opinion?
b) Which are the main influences of Television on young people? Are good or bad?
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