Cover image via The Shade Borough
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After four decades of shaping pop culture and bringing some of the biggest music moments to our screens, MTV is officially saying goodbye to its music channels
Paramount Global, the media giant behind MTV, confirmed that it will shut down all remaining MTV-branded music networks by the end of 2025.
The closure will begin in the UK and Ireland, where these channels will go off air on 31 December 2025, before rolling out across other parts of Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Germany, and Austria.
Channels like MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live will officially go off air, ending nearly 40 years of non-stop music video programming
Let's be honest — the last time MTV truly played music videos 24/7, most of us were still downloading songs off LimeWire.
Over the years, the network shifted its focus from music to reality and entertainment shows like Geordie Shore, The Challenge, and Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
Its flagship channel, MTV HD, will remain on air. But the heart of MTV, its music-first identity, has long since faded, replaced by a lineup designed for binge-watching rather than discovery.
Still, it's bittersweet. For a generation that remembers waiting to catch the latest TRL episode or MTV Unplugged session, this marks the official end of what was once the coolest corner of pop culture.
When MTV first launched in 1981, it literally changed everything
The first video ever aired was Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles, a prophetic anthem that captured the start of the music video revolution.
For years, MTV was the place to discover new artistes, catch exclusive premieres, and watch iconic moments like Michael Jackson's Thriller or Beyoncé's Crazy in Love.
Shows like TRL (Total Request Live) and MTV Unplugged defined entire generations.
But times have changed.
Today, music discovery lives on YouTube, Spotify, Vevo, and TikTok, where you can stream whatever you want, whenever you want
Viewership for traditional music TV has dropped massively, and with audiences moving online, MTV's music channels simply couldn't keep up.
The decision is part of Paramount's global restructuring plan, following its merger with Skydance Media. The company is consolidating its TV channels to focus more on its streaming platform, Paramount+.
Even though the music channels are shutting down, MTV isn't vanishing entirely. Its digital platforms and major global events like the Video Music Awards (VMAs) and Europe Music Awards (EMAs) will continue celebrating artistes worldwide.
