End of an era: MTV to shut down music channels after 40 years on air

MTV is preparing to end its legacy as a chart-driven music video outlet in the UK by shutting down five of its dedicated music video channels on 31 December 2025. The affected channels are MTV Music, 80s, 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live. The main HD channel will continue broadcasting, albeit focusing on reality-based programming like Geordie Shore and Naked Dating UK.

This decision mirrors changing consumption habits – audiences now primarily engage with music videos via YouTube, TikTok, and other social platforms rather than traditional TV. MTV’s move reflects that shift, redirecting resources away from scheduled video rotation toward digital-first models.

Former MTV VJ Simone Angel expressed her dismay: “It really does break my heart.” She argued that the channel served as a cultural hub where music fans could connect, rather than just a video playlist. “MTV was the place where everything came together,” she said.

MTV launched in the US in 1981 and soon became iconic for its visual storytelling – from premiering Michael Jackson’s Thriller video to broadcasting entire concerts like Live Aid. Europe MTV arrived in 1987, with a dedicated UK channel launching in 1997, debuting with the video for Three Lions. Over the years, the channel evolved into a broader entertainment brand, launching original series and diverging from its music roots.

Paramount is reportedly expanding cuts globally, targeting music video channels in Australia, France, Brazil, and more. Cost-saving measures include layoffs and closure of MTV’s UK productions. Meanwhile, the brand plans to maintain its presence through streaming platforms and social media, shifting the brand into digital-first territory rather than traditional broadcasting.

MTV’s evolution underscores how media brands must adapt – the channel of MTV’s youth now makes way for platforms built in the digital age.

Read the full report via BBC here.