The New HTML MTV.com
(April 29th Note: For those of you commenting on the full-screen player: we have CSS menus that overlap the Flash module, which doesn’t allow you to use Flash 9’s full-screen feature. We are working on that.
For those of you trying to find music videos and TV videos, please try our improved search in the upper right.
If you want to watch a series of videos, make sure that “continuous play” is selected below the first video that you are watching.
Please be specific with complaints or praise.)
At MTV, experimenting is just something we do. We’ve got more than two decades of that under our belt. So, about nine months ago, we went all Flash with our Web site. It was a technical marvel and it was indeed flashy. But, it was also something of a headache for a lot of users, so we were told.
Luckily, we’re also good listeners, and that’s why a few months ago we started toying with a new and improved HTML version of the MTV site. Anyone watching the live beta site has been witness to substantial evolution, from the overall look of the pages to simplified navigation, a new video player and a vastly improved internal search mechanism.
Today, we’ve gone ahead and flipped the switch. The Flash site is gone. If you were digging that, we’re sorry. We have good reason to believe that you will enjoy our content via the HTML version even more.
Beyond the obvious new look, here are a few key things about the new site that we’re proud to deliver:
It’s faster!
This new HTML version will allow you to get to the pages that you want more quickly. Not only has the page load time been drastically reduced, but we ditched the interstitial full-page takeover ads, too! Oh, there’s still advertising on the site, but it’s strategically placed so as not to overwhelm users while still being beneficial to our advertisers.
Simplified navigation!
We made the global menu easier to understand and we better organized the site, too. Pulldown menus have been designed to get you to where you want to go as easily as possible.
Accurate internal search!
A few weeks ago, we switched to a Google search appliance. (Yes, that Google. Yes, we get the irony.) We’ve already seen vastly improved results in the HTML environment and there’s tweaking to be done over the coming weeks that to further improve the way results are organized. We’ve got a lot of content; now we’d like you to find it and enjoy it.
No autoplaying video!
Gone is the persistent upper left corner video player that was a hallmark of the Flash site. We still think that was a pretty cool bell (or was it a whistle?), so we’re reserving the right to bring it back again someday. If we do, we’ll make sure it’s something that is a benefit to your user experience. For now, we’re serving up videos embedded into HTML pages in a way you’re used to seeing them elsewhere around the Web (there’s a no brainer, eh?). We’ve also included an option to watch clips individually or in a continuous play fashion. To boot, videos can be seen on the page in the small viewer or in two expansion modes — one pops a scalable window, while the other fills the screen completely.
Video recommendations!
Whether it’s a new or classic music video or an episode of an on-air series, we’ll list relevant related video on the page to suggest other things you might be interested in watching that are waiting in our deep video archive. This addendum is still in a developmental stage and it’s something we expect will grow more sophisticated over the coming months.
Abstract art!
Our earliest fans likely remember a time when MTV promos were funny, compelling and, let’s face it, sometimes just plain weird. Well, that spirit has never left us and it’s bubbling back up to the surface again in the form of HATs (header art treatments) on MTV.com. That’s what we’re calling the changing graphic elements you’ll see framing our pages. Right now, we’ve got about 25 in the gallery, but that number will grow as we open it up to artists around the world to contribute their work to the mix. (We’ll post more details here soon about that opportunity.)
And we’re not done. Not even close!
In fact, we’re letting go of the idea of the site ever being “done.” Every few weeks, new features, functionality, modules and other developments will roll out on the site. Some will be minor tweaks to existing elements that may be hard to spot. Some will be major additions, such as planned community features like rating and commenting on content. Our tech folks are working overtime on that one. Plus there’s a huge list of other delicious things we want them to get to in short order, so surf around and stay tuned.
In the meantime, let’s make this a conversation. If you love, have ever loved or would like to love MTV like we do, you’ve got an opinion that’s worth hearing. LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR COMPLAINTS. We’ll take compliments, too, if they’re warranted 
Seriously, talk to us. Leave your comments here, as we’ll be checking in regularly and posting updates about the latest tweaks and additions.
Thanks!
Love,
The MTV.com Team
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
I have loved some of MTV’s shows– i was a faithful viewer of Laguna Beach and the Hills, but if Heidi and Spencer return to the Hills show next season, you will lose me as a viewer. They suck on the show and no one is interested in either of them– FIRE THEM!!!! WE JUST LOVE LAUREN!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
This new site sucks. The old one was better for navigating through and finding artists and videos and it offered a bigger viewing screen. You guys screwed up when you changed a good thing!
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:58 am
I think you change your site too much. Once I get used to it, then I have to learn to navigate it all over again. Experimenting is good, but perhaps the changes shouldn’t be so radical all at once.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:06 am
I hated the flash site with a passion because it definitely took too long to load and there were way too many ads, just as you guys said. I’m so happy mtv.com users complained and that someone in your offices heard. This new site is somewhat cheesy in design but I much rather have an fugly website where I can access the in a jiffy than a marvel that loads like one would a 19th century musket. Thank you MTV!
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:13 am
yeo it was easier to find videos on the flash site, this new site looks like a glorified myspace page I don’t like it
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
I totally agree with the comments posted. This site sucks!!!! The old site was easier to access all you favorite videos. It looks like a amateur web page. Up grade back to the old site
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:42 am
I have to agree with everyone else…
This site sux. Used to be able to watch and listen to music videos and still search the site. Can’t do that anymore. Furthermore, it takes alot longer to load up and watch videos. I thought the site was supposed to be faster but its gotten slower.
The site also does not look as cool. It looks more like the VH1 site.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:06 pm
For some reason I’m blocked out of listening to music at work since you changed your site!!! Suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
this new set up sucks. its so much slower than the other one. CHANGE IT BACK!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
your new site sucks. don’t fix it if it ain’t broken.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I love the nwe site.. forget the haters.. it’s great!
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
i think you should change the website back to the old one! now i can’t watch any videos because they’re blocked. PLEASE CHANGE IT BACK
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I’m just trying to register! How are you going to offer free music and if someone is not register. Not give that person an option to register!
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Must agree with everyone else….very disappointted with the new site. I was a loyal logger and use to watch every episode I wouldn’t be able to watch at home at work and whatever upgrades you did now I’m blocked. I’m not able to access the videos any longer which really suxx!!! I believe you will loose alot of loggers unless you put the old website back!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I like the way this site looks now. I wasn’t a fan of the FLASH site. Things took way too long to load. This is a lot easier and more pleasant on the eyes. Thanks for always keeping things fresh MTV. You always do a great job.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
The new site suck! I’m trying to get my American TV fix from distant shores, and the previous site totally delivered. The new version is clunky and fugly!
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Preferred the old site!!!! Can’t access anything from work on this new one! PUT OLD SITE BACK!!!! PLEASE!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:12 pm
PLEASE put back that automatic player window! PLEASE! just don’t make it automatic! how am i supposed to get my MTV fix during free period when the school blocked OVERDRIVE and that’s where are the videos are now! just change it back, somehow the old layout looked more organized and official, although the new site loads easier. i say combine and create. keep in mind that the doubly scroll bar thing is annoying tho…
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
NEW SITE SUCKS. BRING OLD ONE BACK. I DON’T MIND THE ADS.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
NEW SITE SUCKS. BRING OLD ONE BACK.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
This new site is a nightmare. I’d bring back the old one, also if you could always have a link for the newest music video’s I’d appreciate it… sometimes the link is there, sometimes not.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:52 pm
This new site is the most horrible and confuse thing I have ever seen in my whole life. Please bring back the old one.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Geez!!! This site is ridiculous!!! How can I access the old one!!! This is a lack of respect with us!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
The person responsible for this new site should be fired.!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:58 pm
The new site I think will be fine but right now it is extremely slow, please work on that. It takes like a minute to get to a link that you clicked, and that is with fios.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Thank you so much for the new site, so much better, the other one had too much content going at once. thank you thank you thank you. i will put mtv.com back as my home page again.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
DON’T LIKE THE NEW SITE TOO SLOW,OT MAKES ME CRAZY.I ONLY HAVE 30 MINUTES FOR LUNCH & I WASTE HALF OF IT FOR VIDEOS OF SHOWS TO PLAY. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:21 pm
This site is ugly and slow. Way to cater to the lowest common user. Upgrade your connection - You’re screwing up the internet for the rest of us!
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:35 pm
i bought a ringtone and never got it, what a business
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
finally u guys cleaned up ur sh*t. Much better. much apreciated
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Faster faster faster! i love the new site!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
This site won’t even load videos…until like 5-10 minutes later. Something is wrong…I don’t really care about the look, but what’s the point of having the site if you can’t even watch the videos.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I would like to know what happened to the links on the THINK section of this site. Specifically the individual steps 1-12.They all are broken and go no where. It’s frustrating because after Earth Day I wanted to compile all the steps into one document for myself.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I’m disappointed on how you guys changed the site. It don’t like it one bit. I hate how you can’t just type in the name to find an artist.
You guys screwed up…
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Since you guys have changed the site.
It is way to slow. I’m not even going to bother going on this site..
why..because it takes way to long to listen to a flippin song.
I’m going back to launch =)
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
the flash site was WAAAAAAY better…can’t believe you guys didn’t just ‘flip the switch’ and have the HTML site be the default and the flash site be the optional version….
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I have to agree…I don’t like this new site. When I first saw it I though “man my computer is screwed up b/c this is not what this site looks like!” Sad but true my computer isn’t broken it’s just the new site that sucks. It’s harder to navigate and now looks ordinary just like everyother website….the black set up it had before made it MTV. Well hope you go back to what keeps us here……
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
This site sucks now.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
THE OLD SITE WAS BAD ENUFF, THIS ONE COMPLETELY SUCKS!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I JUST REMOVED YOU FROM MY FAVS.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
THIS NEW SITE IS AWFUL…PLEASE CHANGE IT BACK TO HOW IT WAS.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
i use to faithfully watch shows, i have to say that i hate this site as of now. It is slower, links do not work just awful to find videos. This is not an improvement from the previous site, but a downgrade. Its a shame that after two decade of decade this is the best you could come up with.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Hey, your new page is a disgrace. Not only have you made it more difficult to find music videos, you have also changed the selection of videos. The ones I used to watch here all the time aren’t even on your site anymore. This site is also much slower then the old one. You guys wanted to change it for the good but you failed miserably.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
AHHH!! I use to log on here everyday to watch videos and episodes I missed but now everything is soooo slow and non accesible. Really dissapointed! You really need to think about changing it back because obviously most of the FANS aren’t satisfied.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
everything was so much better before whos’s idea was to change it!!!! please give me the old page back!!!! i ca not see one thing in here
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
i heat this page like this i think i will not use MTV anymore, get the old page back!!! please
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Wow what a waste of time…i always knew that if i was ever bored at work i could turn to you guys for comfort…but your new site has given me the cold shoulder. its terrible, way too slow and all the people that thought the flash was a slow connection…wait till you try the new site. def. not an improvement
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
the old one was much better for navigating though and finding videos and music and it give u a bigger screen here i ca not see anything, you guys are not thinking for the public
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
what is going on with the people in production!!!! did they really thing that people are gonna be able to use this site … welll news it SUCK it took me more thatn 10 min to open a sily video !! what is that all about?
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:24 pm
ok this is officially try number 3 to watch the hills episodes and i cant access it…its been 30 mins!!! you guys are seriously ridiculous for changing the site…looks like im not the only one who agrees…