Mondonna, Pat Benetar, Duran Duran, Wham! and Thompson Twins are the first bands that come to mind. Here is the original broadcast : MTV Launch Day One 12:01 am Saturday August 1st, 1981 Video # 1
This is why Youtube is more important than TV. MTV turned the big 3-0 a couple days past. Now, with the help of serious fans we can view the full first hour of MTV’s existence – scratch that – now you can view the first full 24 hours of MTV! This was living. This is the MTV First 24 Archive.
Accidental Bear 