What was the name of MTV’s heavy-metal program that premiered in 1987?

Headbangers Ball was MTV’s heavy-metal program that premiered in 1987.

The show was designed around heavy metal and hard rock videos, interviews, performances, and appearances by prominent artists. Its Saturday-night placement helped make metal culture a visible part of MTV’s programming during a period when the channel was a major source of music discovery for young viewers.

Headbangers Ball became associated with hosts including Kevin Seal and later Riki Rachtman. It covered bands from several corners of the metal world, ranging from established arena acts to newer groups seeking a wider audience.

The program is often confused with 120 Minutes because both were music-focused MTV shows with strong genre identities. Their missions differed: 120 Minutes emphasized alternative and independent music, while Headbangers Ball centered on metal and hard rock. The series was revived in later forms after its original run.