THE end of an era is approaching for a generation that grew up glued to MTV. Entertainment giant, Paramount Global, has confirmed that all MTV music channels will cease broadcasting by 31 December 2025 – a move that not only marks a business decision but also signals the fading of communal music discovery in the digital age.
After 44 years on air, five channels – MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live – will be switched off. The closures will begin in the UK and Ireland before extending to France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil.
The shutdown comes as Paramount Global undertakes sweeping cost-cutting measures and prepares to merge with Skydance Media later this year.
The company’s decision reflects broader changes in how audiences consume music, with fans now turning overwhelmingly to digital platforms and social media for their fix.
Traditional television channels have struggled to compete with the immediacy and personalisation offered by streaming services, despite once providing a shared sense of community that defined youth culture for decades.
The closure brings to an end a pop culture legacy that began in the United States in 1981, when MTV aired its first-ever music video ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles. The title proved prophetic.
Over the years, MTV shaped generations of music fans and created countless cultural moments: the debut of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ in 1983, David Bowie’s challenge to MTV over its lack of Black artistes, the launch of the groundbreaking reality show ‘The Real World’, Nirvana’s grunge revolution through ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, and the notorious on-air clash between Courtney Love and Madonna.
MTV launched in Europe in 1987, expanding its influence with programmes such as ‘MTV Unplugged’, which showcased stripped-down performances by major artistes.
At its height, the network transformed music videos into an art form, launched global careers, set fashion trends, and helped define the spirit of youth across borders.
By the 2010s, however, the dominance of social media and on-demand streaming had rendered traditional music television increasingly irrelevant.
While MTV’s digital platforms and flagship events – including the VMAs and EMAs – will continue, the end of 2025 will mark the final broadcast of MTV’s music channels.
For many, it will be the closing note of a soundtrack that defined their youth.
