After four decades of defining youth culture and reshaping the global music landscape, MTV — the channel that once ruled pop culture with iconic music videos, countdowns, and celebrity shows — is officially closing all of its music-focused channels outside the United States.
The move comes following a corporate merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, with insiders confirming that MTV will pull the plug on its European and global music feeds by December 31, 2025. Channels affected include MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live HD.
While the flagship MTV HD channel will remain on air, it now primarily features reality and entertainment programming, marking a sharp shift from the network’s original music-driven mission.
Media sources describe the decision as part of Paramount’s larger exit from traditional TV markets and the consolidation of its global entertainment strategy. The closure will also extend to Asia, Latin America, and Australia, ending an era when MTV served as the heartbeat of music television.
A senior source described the moment as “a dark day for the music industry,” adding, “MTV was once an industry powerhouse, but it’s now a shadow of its former self. The streaming revolution killed the video star.”
MTV, which launched in 1981 with the prophetic first video “Video Killed the Radio Star,” became the cultural engine of the 1980s and 1990s — breaking artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé.
As fans prepare to bid farewell to MTV’s music era this New Year’s Eve, the closure underscores a broader truth: that the age of music television has finally given way to the digital reign of YouTube, TikTok, and streaming culture.
