MTV to Close UK Music Channels After Nearly 40 Years of Broadcasting

MTV, the pioneering 24-hour music television network, will cease broadcasting its five UK music channels—MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live—on December 31, 2025, marking the end of nearly four decades of music television in the UK. The closure reflects a broader shift in audience behavior, with music videos now predominantly consumed on YouTube and social media rather than traditional TV.Launched in the US in 1981, MTV transformed music entertainment with its video jockeys (VJs) and iconic moments like the premiere of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the 1985 Live Aid broadcast, and the MTV Video Music Awards. The network expanded to Europe in 1987 and launched its UK channel in 1997, kicking off with Three Lions by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. MTV also propelled presenters like Cat Deeley and Zane Lowe to fame and later ventured into reality TV with shows like Ex On The Beach and Teen Mom UK.Paramount, MTV’s parent company, has not commented officially on the closures, which are reportedly part of a global cost-cutting strategy targeting $500 million in savings. Similar channel closures are expected in Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil. Paramount also shuttered its Television Studios division earlier this year, canceling UK productions like Gonzo and Fresh Out UK.Despite the closures, MTV’s UK music channels retained a niche audience, with MTV Music drawing 1.3 million viewers and MTV 90s reaching 949,000 in July, per Barb ratings. MTV will continue its legacy through social media and Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount+.

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