Paramount Global, the media conglomerate that owns MTV, has confirmed it will close all remaining music-focused MTV channels in Europe and several other territories by December 31, 2025, marking a sweeping shift in the network’s global strategy and the end of decades of traditional music television broadcasting.
The move affects dedicated music channels, including MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live, which have broadcast music videos, live performances, and genre-themed playlists to audiences across the United Kingdom, Europe, and other international markets.
A Strategic Shift Away From Linear Music TV
According to Paramount, the closures are part of a broader restructuring aimed at reallocating resources toward digital platforms and content formats that reflect current viewer habits. In an era when music discovery and consumption have migrated largely to streaming services and social media, linear music television — once the centerpiece of pop culture — has seen a sustained decline in viewership.
While these specialized music channels will go dark, the main MTV channel itself will continue to operate, focusing primarily on reality-based programming and general entertainment rather than round-the-clock music videos.
Industry analysts say the move underscores the ongoing challenges facing traditional TV networks that built their brands on linear broadcasting in the pre-internet era, as media companies pivot to streaming and on-demand services to capture younger, digitally native audiences.
End of an Era for Music Television
MTV’s influence on global music culture is unrivaled: the network debuted in 1981 and for decades served as a vital platform for music videos, artist premieres, and youth culture moments that helped define generations. Though MTV’s flagship channel has evolved over the years to include reality shows and pop culture programming, the dedicated music channels preserved the network’s musical roots for audiences around the world.
Fans and cultural commentators have responded to the news with a mix of nostalgia and reflection on how music consumption has changed. Many see the closures as symbolic of the broader digital transformation of the music and media industries.
Where MTV Goes Next
Paramount has indicated that while traditional music channels are being shuttered, the MTV brand will live on through entertainment programming and digital initiatives. Music content is expected to remain part of MTV’s presence on streaming platforms, social media, and Paramount’s own services, even as dedicated linear broadcasts fade from the global TV landscape.
For now, viewers in affected regions can expect the last broadcasts of MTV’s music channels to air through the final hours of December 31, 2025, closing a chapter on more than four decades of MTV as a defining voice in music television.
