MTV to Shut Down UK Music Channels After Nearly Four Decades on Air

MTV is set to discontinue its music video broadcasting channels in the United Kingdom after nearly four decades on air. According to reports from The Desk and NME, the network will shut down five of its long-running UK music channels — MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live — by December 31, 2025.

While the main MTV HD channel will remain operational, it will continue to focus on reality and unscripted entertainment rather than music videos, reflecting the brand’s long-term shift away from its original format. The decision comes as Paramount Global, MTV’s parent company, restructures its global operations amid declining demand for linear television and increasing consumption of music through digital platforms such as YouTube and streaming services.

MTV, which debuted in the United States in 1981 as the first 24-hour music video network, revolutionized the way audiences experienced music and pop culture. In the UK, however, the brand began moving away from dedicated music content as early as 2011, when the flagship channel dropped music videos from its schedule and transferred them to its sister channels.

Industry reports suggest that Paramount may implement similar changes in other regions, including Australia, Brazil, and parts of Europe. The decision follows other cost-cutting measures, such as the closure of MTV News in 2023 and the removal of its extensive online archives.