Highlights
- MTV’s music channels across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America will shut down by December 31, 2025
- The US operations and MTV HD channel will continue with non-music entertainment content
- Parent company Paramount Global is implementing a $500 million cost-cutting plan
- The closures mark the end of MTV’s global music broadcasting era after nearly 40 years
MTV to end music channels worldwide except in the US
MTV, once the world’s defining music television brand, is shutting down all its remaining music-focused channels outside the United States by the end of 2025. According to reports from BBC and News.az, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live will go off air in the UK and Ireland on December 31, with similar closures scheduled in Poland, Hungary, Germany, Austria, France, Australia, and Brazil.
The decision is part of Paramount Global’s global restructuring plan, aimed at cutting costs by approximately $500 million. While MTV’s US operations will continue, the focus has shifted almost entirely from music to reality and entertainment programming.
End of an icon that shaped music culture
For generations, MTV’s name was synonymous with youth, music, and pop culture. From TRL countdowns to MTV Unplugged sessions, it launched careers and captured the sound and style of entire eras.
Former MTV VJ Simone Angel told the BBC she felt “heartbroken” about the news. “We need to support these artists again. MTV was where everything came together. It really breaks my heart,” she said.
Although MTV HD will remain on air globally, it will focus on popular reality franchises such as The Challenge, Geordie Shore, and Jersey Shore Family Vacation rather than music programming. Fans have expressed both nostalgia and disappointment online, with many calling it “the end of an era.”
Music discovery moves online
The shutdown highlights how music discovery has shifted away from traditional TV to digital platforms. Services like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify have replaced curated MTV playlists with personalized algorithms, offering convenience but reducing shared cultural moments.
Industry observers see Paramount’s move as both a financial and cultural shift. Once a global stage for new talent and music innovation, MTV is now evolving into a lifestyle and entertainment network.
While the brand name will live on, the closure of its music channels outside the US marks the final fadeout of a television era that once connected millions through music videos and shared experiences.
