MTV to shut down music channels: Why the network is closing its iconic music channels

After more than four decades of shaping music and youth culture, MTV is preparing to bid farewell to five of its iconic music channels. On 12 October 2025, Paramount Global announced that MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live will permanently cease broadcasting by 31 December 2025. For generations of fans, these channels were the go-to destinations for music videos, live performances, and throwback hits, defining how people experienced pop culture, fashion, and entertainment. The closures mark the end of a defining era for music television, leaving only the main MTV channel, now focused primarily on reality programming such as Catfish and The Challenge.The five channels that will stop broadcasting globally include:While the main MTV channel will remain on air, its programming now focuses mainly on reality shows rather than music content.The closures will first affect the United Kingdom and Ireland, followed by similar shutdowns across continental Europe and other international markets. Countries expected to lose these MTV music channels include Australia, Poland, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Brazil.Changing viewing habits: Audiences now prefer platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify for music discovery and videos, reducing the demand for traditional music television.Corporate cost-cutting: Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media earlier in 2025 accelerated the closures as part of an aggressive $500 million global cost-reduction strategy.Declining viewership: Despite modest audiences, with MTV Music drawing 1.3 million viewers in July 2025 and MTV 90s attracting 949,000, traditional music television has steadily declined over the past decade. The channels now attract only a fraction of the audiences they commanded in the 1990s and 2000s, making them financially unsustainable under Paramount’s new focus on its Paramount+ streaming service.This decision signals the final chapter of MTV’s transformation since its 1981 launch as a 24-hour music video channel. Over the years, MTV has shifted its focus from music programming to reality shows, leaving these dedicated music channels as the last remnants of its original identity. Former MTV VJ Simone Angel expressed her sadness, stating: “I am really sad, and I’m a little bit in disbelief. MTV was the place where everything came together. So it really does break my heart.”While the dedicated music channels will disappear, MTV will maintain its presence through social media platforms and Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount+. This allows the brand to remain relevant in the digital age while adapting to changing audience preferences.