End of an era: MTV to pull the plug on music channels
In a major shift marking the end of an era, Paramount Global has announced that all of MTV's music-focused channels — MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV Music, Club MTV, and MTV Live — will cease broadcasting worldwide by December 31, 2025.
The move marks the end of more than four decades of continuous music programming and underscores the network's steady evolution from a trailblazer in music television to a hub for reality entertainment.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The flagship MTV HD channel will remain on air, though its focus will now be exclusively on reality shows — a decisive departure from the brand's origins as the home of music videos and artist discovery.
Launched in 1981 in the United States, MTV revolutionised pop culture by transforming how audiences consumed music, giving rise to the era of music videos and the now-iconic Video Jockeys (VJs) who introduced them. From premiering Michael Jackson's Thriller to broadcasting Live Aid in 1985 and founding the MTV Video Music Awards, the network defined a generation's sound and style.
Former MTV VJ Simone Angel expressed her sadness to the BBC, saying, "I'm really sad, and I'm a little bit in disbelief, and I know it's been a long time coming. We need to support these artists, and we all need to dance again and listen to music."
MTV expanded beyond the U.S. in 1987 with its European edition, followed by the launch of a UK-specific channel in 1997.
The announcement has sparked a wave of nostalgia and criticism across social media. "So parts of MTV are going up yonder, and if that's not a sign of the times I don't know what is," wrote one X user. Another lamented, "MTV is shutting down most of its music channels in the UK. Do you remember when MTV used to play music videos? Reality TV has killed the video star."
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