The world’s first 24-hour music broadcaster is set to stop airing all of its existing music channels by the end of the year, ending its 44-year-long history.
Paramount Global is closing five MTV music channels (MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live). The shutdown begins in the UK and Ireland, followed by countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia, and Brazil.
The flagship MTV HD channel survives but will now exclusively focus on reality TV shows like Geordie Shore and Catfish.
Why it’s happening
The closures are part of Paramount’s $500 million global cost-cutting strategy following its merger with Skydance Media and the shift from traditional TV to streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok.
According to BARB ratings, MTV Music drew only 1.3 million UK viewers in July 2025, while MTV 90s attracted 949k. Paramount is also shutting down NickMusic EMEA, TeenNick, Comedy Central Extra, and Paramount Network across multiple European markets. In New Zealand, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. will close as Paramount’s partnership with Sky TV expires.
MTV’s legacy
MTV launched in 1981 and revolutionized music culture by turning videos into visual experiences that shaped fashion, youth identity, and careers. By 2011, the UK network removed most music videos from its main channel, moving them to specialized channels now being shut down.
Former MTV VJ Simone Angel told the BBC: “MTV was the place where everything came together. It really breaks my heart. To this day, it’s one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Why on earth throw that away? It’s not thrown away, but it’s just reality TV. That’s not what MTV is or should be.”
