MTV, the channel that transformed global music culture and launched some of the world’s most iconic artists, is preparing to shut down its international music channels by the end of 2025. The move marks the symbolic end of a legacy that began in 1981, when MTV aired its first-ever music video — “Video Killed the Radio Star.”
Sources at Paramount Skydance, which owns MTV, confirmed to AFP that channels including MTV Music, MTV Hits, and genre-focused 80s and 90s music channels will stop broadcasting across the UK and Europe in the coming months. Additional shutdowns are expected in France, Germany, Poland, Australia, and Brazil, according to regional media reports.
Fans, industry veterans, and former MTV video jockeys (VJs) reacted with visible sadness, calling the decision “the end of an era.”
A Shift Driven by Streaming Culture
Experts say that MTV’s decline reflects a dramatic shift in how audiences consume music. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and music streaming apps now dominate, providing the instant access and interactivity younger audiences expect.
“The conditions that made MTV revolutionary don’t exist anymore,” said Kirsty Fairclough, professor of screen studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. She explained that MTV once served as a cultural hub, but the social-media-driven landscape has reshaped music discovery completely.
Former MTV Europe producer James Hyman, who worked on the channel’s celebrated Party Zone dance program in the 1990s, noted that the network’s success peaked before the internet became mainstream.
“It was so exciting, because that’s mainly all people had,” Hyman told AFP.
He said the network began losing its essence when it shifted toward reality programming in the early 2000s.
A Legacy of Cultural Revolution
During its height, MTV shaped global pop culture, breaking new artists and creating unforgettable moments. The premiere of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video and Madonna’s provocative “Like a Virgin” performance at the 1984 VMAs defined music television’s power.
Barb research data shows that MTV Music reached 1.3 million UK households in July 2025—down from over 10 million in 2001. The decline illustrates how quickly streaming disrupted the music video ecosystem.
Former VJ Simone Angel reflected emotionally on the shift:
“To me that was like the beginning of the end.”
What Remains
While most global music channels will close, some MTV networks will remain in the United States, and the UK will still have access to MTV HD, though it will focus primarily on entertainment rather than music.
Paramount has executed cost-cutting strategies since merging with Skydance, including 1,000 layoffs and a review of cable operations. Fans and former employees are urging the company to release archival content, including decades of historic footage currently stored away on tape.
Hyman says he hopes the legacy is preserved:
“People still want their MTV.”
