KEY POINTS
- Paramount Global will shut five of MTV’s international music channels by December 31, 2025.
- Channels affected: MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live.
- MTV HD will remain but pivot largely to reality and entertainment programming.
- The closures reflect shift from broadcast music to streaming and on-demand platforms.
ISLAMABAD: Defining global youth and music culture for decades, MTV is set to turn off five of its international music channels by the end of 2025, underscoring how streaming services and social media have transformed music consumption, AFP reported on Sunday.
Paramount Global, MTV’s parent company, confirmed the closures in a statement, specifying that MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live will cease broadcasting, beginning in the United Kingdom and Ireland and rolling out across Europe, Australia, Brazil and other markets.
The flagship MTV HD channel will remain on air but shift focus to reality shows and entertainment content rather than music videos.
Industry observers say the decision reflects broader trends in global music consumption.
Platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok now offer instant, on-demand access to music, while traditional TV channels struggle to maintain audiences and profitability, according to Philstar.
MTV, which launched in 1981, was a cultural touchstone for generations, introducing audiences to music videos, live performances, and countdown shows.
Its programming helped launch international careers and define pop culture across continents, according to Euronews.
Veterans of the channel describe the closures as “the end of an era,” noting that while music itself has not vanished, the communal experience of discovering it on television is fading.
The move marks a symbolic shift from shared, linear music broadcasting to individualised, digital music experiences.
