MTV2 launched in the United States as a separate music-video channel in 1996.
The network was introduced as an alternative to MTV's increasingly broad entertainment schedule. MTV2 initially emphasized music videos and artists that received less exposure on the main MTV channel, giving it a reputation for a more music-focused and alternative identity.
The channel's name originally appeared as M2, but it was rebranded MTV2 in 1997 to make its relationship with MTV clearer. Over time, MTV2 also adopted reality, comedy, and other original programming. That evolution is why the channel's early identity as a dedicated music-video outlet can be easy to confuse with MTV's later programming model.