Which band’s 1985 video for “Money for Nothing” helped launch MTV Europe?

Dire Straits’ 1985 video for “Money for Nothing” helped launch MTV Europe.

MTV Europe began broadcasting on August 1, 1987, and used “Money for Nothing” as its opening music video. The choice connected the new European service with a song whose chorus repeatedly mentions MTV and whose video presented computer-animated appliance movers watching music television.

Steve Barron directed the video, which combined live-action footage with computer animation created by Rushes. The animation was technologically notable for its period and gave the clip an unusual blocky, digitally rendered appearance.

The song itself appeared on Dire Straits’ album Brothers in Arms and became one of the band’s biggest international hits. MTV Europe’s launch video should not be confused with MTV’s first U.S. broadcast, which began with the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.”