1997–2001

Since 1993, Germany was served by VIVA as a 24-hour German music channel, while MTV was only broadcast in English through MTV Europe. In 1997, as part of MTV Networks Europe's regionalization strategy, MTV launched a German-speaking channel to target existing competition within the German-speaking markets. MTV Germany launched with specialized German-speaking versions of hit MTV Europe shows which included the Euro Top 20, MTV Select, MTV News, Non-Stop Hits, US Top 20 Hitlist UK, Hitlist Germany, Fashion Zone, MTV Urban and The Lick.

In 1999, MTV Germany became available free-to-air throughout Europe on Astra satellite. In 2001, MTV Networks Germany launched MTV2 Pop, a 24-hour pop music channel (later replaced by Nickelodeon).

2002–2010

In 2002, MTV Germany began to air programming from MTV US. Most of this programming was either subtitled or dubbed. From 2002 onwards, similar to other MTV channels in Europe, MTV Germany began to drop some of its localized programming in favour of MTV US shows. These shows included Jackass, Date My Mom, Pimp My Ride and Dismissed.

In 2005, MTV owner Viacom purchased its biggest German competitor VIVA.

In early 2006, MTV began to further regionalize its German-speaking feed to include a separate version for Austria and Switzerland. Late in 2009, MTV Networks Germany helped to localize these channels even further with the development of MTV Austria and MTV Switzerland.

From 2008, MTV Germany was also streamed on P2P TV network TVU Player, but was taken off air in March 2009. As of 2009, MTV Germany used the same on-air identity as other MTV channels in Europe. The channel also featured fewer music videos and aired more American MTV shows than German-speaking programming. Most of this programming was subtitled in German. The headquarters for MTV Networks Germany is Berlin. MTV Germany remains one of the only remaining MTV transmitted by analogue satellite in Europe, and among the few transmitted on free-to-air digital services throughout the continent, along with MTV Austria, MTV Italia, MTV Adria and MTV Türkiye.

2011-2021

From 1 January 2011, MTV Germany was only available on major German pay TV platforms including Sky, Unitymedia, Telekom, and Kabel BW.^[4] With the move from a free-to-air to a subscription based service, MTV Germany no longer hosted advertising^[4] on its subscription service channel. MTV Germany continued to commission new music programming which included MTV Brand New, MTV Top 11, 3 From 1, The Breakfast Club, Fantastic Music Videos, MTV's Chart Shows (titles to be confirmed), and M is for Music. Localised programming will continue with MTV Home, a German language music and entertainment show. Similar to MTV channels worldwide, MTV Germany aired reality shows including the American version of Skins and new seasons of Jersey Shore, Punk'd with Justin Bieber, When I Was 17, and the Lauren Conrad Fashion Show.

MTV Germany's sister channel VIVA became the main music station for MTV Networks Germany and continued to be available free-to-air across Germany, Austria and Europe.

MTV Networks Germany also launched a new music channel called MTV Brand: New which focused on the new music releases from German-speaking and international artists.^[2]

On 16 May 2011 MTV Networks in Germany launched high-definition versions of MTV, VIVA and Nickelodeon. MTV HD, VIVA HD and Nickelodeon/Comedy Central HD are a simulcast of the original MTV channels already available in Germany.^[5]

On 1 July 2011 MTV Networks Germany rebranded its MTV channel to embrace the new global on-air identity, sharing the same MTV logo from the US.

In 2013 MTV rebranded to new global on-air identity, sharing the same graphics as MTV's global channels.

In 2014 in September started in HD + deutschland as free to view HD channel.

In 2015 MTV rebranded again to new global on-air identity, sharing the same on-air identity as MTV's global channels.

In 2017 MTV started online free live stream on mtv.de since 20th anniversary of MTV in Germany.

In November 2017 MTV rebranded again to current on-air identity, similar to MTV's global channels.

In 4 December at 13 pm started FTA stream of MTV on Astra 19.2E 11973 3/4 27500 V in SD version.

The same day MTV brought back more music to MTV including new shows as M us for Music, MTV Most wanted, MTV Classics, MTV Rockzone, MTV Urban, MTV Likes, MTV Crush and VIVA Top 100 premiere was moved to MTV and renamed to TOP 100.

In April 2018 music content was prolonged for 2 hours in Monday-Friday as M is for Music until 14 pm (previously until 13 pm) and then MTV Most wanted and in the evening hours there is repeat of 3 From 1 between 6:20 pm and 7:20 pm before MTV Most wanted premiere and 1 hour at weekend prolonging MTV Rockzone and MTV Urban as 2 hour shows.

In May 2018 music content was prolonged for 1 hour at weekends as making the MTV Likes 2 hours show between 1 pm and 3 pm (previously 2 pm, evening repeat of MTV Likes is only half time as previously 7:20-8:15 pm) and There was added MTV Most wanted German chart after end of MTV Most wanted Ultimate charts on Sunday between 2 pm and 3 pm.

In May 2018 was also renamed TOP 100 to MTV Top 100 and start of premiere on MTV was moved from 11 pm to 10 pm on Saturday.

From 29 October 2018, the music will be given more airtime. During the week, a music program can be seen from about 01:30 to 21:15 - more than 80% of daily airtime.

As of 1 November 2018, a timeshift version of MTV Germany will be available on the Nicknight Germany slot under the name MTV +, which will be shown between 8:15 pm and 5:00 am. MTV + shows the regular MTV program delayed by one hour.

On 31 December 2018, MTV's former rival VIVA was discontinued, thus making MTV the only remaining mainstream music television channel in Germany.

On 1 March 2021, MTV+ was replaced by Comedy Central +1.^[6]

2021 onwards

In September 2021 there was a new MTV logo.

In January 2022 was a comeback shows includes 3 From 1 and new music shows includes MTV Yearbook and MTV's Hot 10. 3 from 1 airs from 7 pm to 7:15 pm daily (previously Monday to Friday between 3 pm and 3:15 pm).

In March 2022, after MTV Early Bird Breakfast Club, MTV Hits and MTV Back for good were discontinued, could a new look from MTV, new and comeback shows was aired including MTV In The Mix, MTV Collection, Guess The Year, Deutschstunde (previously at VIVA Germany), 3 From 1, MTV's Hot 10, RockZone, Headbangers Ball Music, Party Zone, Dancefloor, Chill Out Zone, MTV Yearbook and Then & Now, MTV Breakfast Club was rebranded to Breakfast Club. On Summer 2022 was temporarily rebranded MTV's Hot 10 to This week's Hot 10 aired Saturday and Sunday, and Monday to Friday it was replaced with Sound of summer. MTV In The Mix can be seen daily between 8 am and 9 am and Monday to Friday between 11 am and 12:45 pm in TV. New music shows come in TV program soon. MTV In The Mix lasted to 10:00 am Monday with exception on October 3, 2022, with the greatest German-speaking hits like Deutschstunde. Sound Of Summer, of the summer music program, was replaced by Road To EMA, with Best German Act Winners.

Road To EMA aired the last time for the countdown of this year's EMAs, was replaced by the show at November 14, 2022 EMA Afterparty and then the Christmas music show at November 21, 2022 MTV Xmas. Two MTV Approved music programs Hip Hop and Alternative replaces by Yo! MTV Raps and Alternative Nation. Since 2023 at second January the channel ID and commercial break IDs are from it looks like MTV Europe.

MTV Christmas was discontinued and replaced by Best of 2022 with a genre Rock. At 9th of January 2023 is Best of 2022 replaced by MTV special with 90s week. MTV special aired weekdays at 9:15 am and 7:15 pm after 3 From 1 ends with different topics from weekend special including top 10, number one hits, 90s, 2000s, sports and much more.

Jahres Charts from MTV in Germany is a chart show because it plays top 100 in the world and in Germany every year. And since New Year's Eve 2022 presents MTV temporary with New Year's Eve Party and Katermusik. At January 7 2023, Guess The Year was at 11:30 pm one more time with the boy band Oasis, after he was coming back. Guess The Year was at 30th of January in 2023 after 3 From 1 in the morning and evening program at 9:15 am and 7:15 pm for 45 minutes for one week with GUESS THE YEAR WEEKEND and MTV Collection aired with Metallica.

In April 2023, 3 From 1 is daily at 08:00 am and MTV In The Mix Mondays to Fridays at 8:15 am and 1:15 pm after 3 From 1, this time changed from Party Zone, MTV Yearbook, Guess the Year, MTV Uncensored, Chill Out Zone and other MTV shows are revealed, the decade shows like the channels MTV 80s, MTV 90s and MTV 00s, four new music shows and clip series called thematic at night MTV All Nighter, Brand New, This Week's Hot 20 and most favorites Star Trax. MTV In The Mix is not at the weekend in April of this year 2023.