After more than four decades on TV screens, MTV’s music channels will be shut down by December 31, 2025, marking the end of an era for millions of viewers who grew up with it, according to Euronews.
Paramount Global announced that it will “pull the plug” on five channels: MTV, MTV 80s Music, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live.
The shutdown will begin in the UK and Ireland, before expanding to France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil.
The decision is part of the company’s cost-cutting and restructuring plans in its merger with Skydance Media. But more than a financial issue, this move reflects the profound change in the way people follow music, from television screens to digital platforms like YouTube, Spotify and TikTok.
Since its founding in 1981, MTV has revolutionized pop culture with the first video “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles to iconic moments like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, the “Unplugged” performances, and the influence of Nirvana that brought grunge to the mainstream.
MTV began broadcasting in Europe in 1987, becoming the main window on music and fashion trends for entire generations.
Its programs shaped the identity of youth for years, turning music into an inseparable part of everyday life.
But with the spread of the internet and the emergence of “on demand” platforms, music television lost its former influence. Viewers opted for more personal and interactive experiences, while linear channels like MTV became relics of another time.
Although the MTV brand will remain active through online platforms and major events like the VMAs and EMAs, the closure of the television channels marks the end of a symbol that for 44 years gave voice and image to youth culture around the world.
