It’s the end of an era for pop culture obsessives: MTV, the world’s first 24-hour music broadcaster, is to cease operation of five of its channels in the U.K. and Ireland at the end of 2025.
MTV’s parent company, entertainment giant Paramount, will pull the plug on MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live on Dec. 31. The channels will also close in Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil at a later date.
The decision also impacts MTV productions in the U.K., where original shows such as Gonzo – presented by Radio 1’s Jack Saunders – and Fresh Out UK have also recently been canceled.
The latest numbers from British organization Barb show that, in July, MTV Music had 1.3 million viewers, while MTV 90s pulled in an audience of 949,000 for the month.
Flagship channel MTV HD is set to remain on air, with its scheduling centered around reality series including Teen Mom, Ex On The Beach and Geordie Shore. The channel is known for launching the careers of popular British presenters including Emma Willis and Cat Deeley.
A new report from BBC News states that the move comes as Paramount, which has yet to issue a formal comment, seeks to implement cost-cutting measures of $500 million across its global portfolio.
Beyond financial realities, however, the move also reflects how television viewing habits have shifted dramatically over the past decade, with music fans migrating towards social media, streaming platforms, and digital video outlets such as YouTube, Instagram Reels or TikTok.
The music arm of MTV brand will continue to have a presence across social media, as well as signature events like the VMAs. The EMAs, meanwhile, have been put on hold for 2025 as Paramount continues to review its events slate while pursuing a merger with entertainment company Skydance Media. The awards show returned to the U.K. last November, taking place at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
MTV launched its first rolling music channel outside of the U.S., MTV Global, in London in August 1987. The first broadcast showed Elton John turning on the broadcast signal in Amsterdam, followed by the music video for Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing.” The U.K. got its own dedicated MTV Music channel in 1997.
Its American counterpart began operation in 1981, helping to popularize music videos as a format. Famously, the first video broadcast was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” while the TV channel played host to other iconic pop culture moments in the following years, including the world premiere of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video in 1983.
