Doug Herzog, Dan Cortese on MTV's 20th

Doug Herzog, former president of MTV

(CNN) -- Twenty years ago today, MTV hit the air. In the years since, the cable channel has become much more than a broadcaster of music videos; it has become a major influence on popular culture, from the reality TV of "The Real World" to its innovative graphics. CNN's Carol Lin spoke to former MTV president Doug Herzog, now president of USA Networks, and former MTV Sports host Dan Cortese to get their perspectives on the network.

Carol Lin, CNN Anchor: It's a big change for MTV now that it is 20 years old. And take a look at the accomplishments that you established at MTV. I mean, who thought, when you take a look at "Real World" today, that seven people living in a house would seem all that interesting, and look what it pioneered.

Doug Herzog: It's unbelievable. In fact, the first time we did it, it seemed like a great idea and it seemed to work, but I thought it would never work again, because once you did it and these kids have an expectation as to what might happen to them once they got famous, I thought it won't be interesting anymore; they'll become so self-conscious and obnoxious, it won't be interesting. But of course that's what people love about it, and here we are 10 years later.

Lin: Yes, that's what people love about it, and look, 10 years later now, rats are climbing all over people on television and people are having to eat bugs for prizes.

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Herzog: Well, I don't think MTV is going to take credit for that.

Lin: No. But how much of a foundation do you think MTV has really created for reality-based programming and entertainment?

Herzog: Well, there was a time when MTV was doing nothing but reality-based programming beyond the videos, and the networks, you know, weren't just interested in that, and they weren't interested in the form at all. And now of course you look at what the networks are doing, and it's completely dominated by reality television, so it's sort of come full circle.

Lin: You started MTV News. What made you think that kids who watch music videos would be interested in current events?

Herzog: You know, I think kids have always been what's interested in what's going on in the world around them, and that's what MTV always tried to do is sort of reflect and take a look what was going on in the world outside of MTV -- but within popular culture, and to that we added news and politics, and sports, and fashion, and movies and television, and it really helped.

Lin: Take us back to those early days at MTV. I mean, what was the think tank process like? How did you come up with these ideas?

Herzog: You know, it was as romantic as you might believe it to be. It was a bunch of people, mostly under 25, sitting in a room, saying, how could we do this? How do we -- you know, and how creative can we get, and how crazy can we get? And of course, we don't have any money to do it with, but we always tried to let the good idea lead the way and lead the day, and we came up with great stuff that way. And it was a great effort on behalf of many, many creative people.

Lin: But wasn't there ever a fear of failure, though?

Herzog: Of course there was fear of failure, but you know, we were sort of encouraged to take chances, encouraged to take risks, and we were encouraged to do things differently, and that's what always kept us going. We were told we were supposed to try and go out there and do things differently, and if we did things the same as the networks or local television, or whoever was making television in those days, we were doing it wrong; the idea was to do it in a completely original way and distinctive way in what now is known as the MTV style.

Lin: Well, you know, that was the mission statement of Rolling Stone when it first came out, and as it matured it became far more mainstream, and many other magazines have since taken over on the cutting edge. Some people are predicting the same for MTV now that it's 20.

Herzog: Well, I don't think so. I think Rolling Stone in a different way, they let their audience grow old, and they grew old with them. MTV never grew old with it's audience, and it remained very true to a very specific demographic, young people, you know, pretty much between the ages of 12 and 34, or 18 and 24 more specifically. And MTV continues to evolve and roll with the punches. And whatever the trend was, MTV would try and lead it, follow it at the same time, but it would cycle their audience out, and they weren't afraid to let their audience go, and cycle in new young people, you know, with each given year, and they still remain very vibrant that way.

Dan Cortese, former MTV Sports host

Lin: Well, right now I want to cycle in Dan Cortese. You of course know this guy. He was the host of "MTV Sports." Unfortunately, because our technology is evolving here at CNN, you guys can't hear each other, so my apologies for that. But, Dan, I want to ask you, what were those early days like?

Dan Cortese: You know what, it was just a red-blooded American boy's dream to work at MTV, and just so much fun.

And I disagree with Doug, even though he's my man, that I don't think there was ever a fear of failure there at MTV, because you knew on the cutting edge, because you knew you were always doing something different and you knew that people were going to watch it and enjoy it whether they agreed with what you did or not.

Lin: You know, Dan, your story was so terrific, and it's hard for me to believe. Is this story true about you and how you got started at MTV, how you got the host job?

Cortese: Well, it depends on what story ...

Lin: The clean story, the one you can tell to morning audience.

Cortese: Well, yes, it is true, Carol, it is. And fortunately ... Lin: You were a production assistant, right?

Cortese: Yes, I had this idea for a sports show that then kind of grew ...

Lin: You basically marched up to this (TV executive), and this is what I'm hearing, and said, hey ...

Cortese: Yes, I didn't say that to Doug, but Doug was the gentleman that actually made sure that "MTV Sports" and a guy like Dan could take off in this country, and I just -- I owe a lot to Doug. He did a lot for my career. And I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today if it weren't for him and a lot of hardworking people at MTV. I'm very appreciative.

Lin: Well, Doug, he's singing your praises. I know you can't hear him.

Herzog: I can't hear what he said, but I agree with him. Whatever he said.

Lin: Dan Cortese, great to see you. Congratulations, you're all grown up. Doug Herzog, congratulations on moving on up to USA Networks.

Herzog: Thank you.