MTV, the American 24-hour music broadcaster, is set to shut down five of its channels by the end of 2025.
BBC reports that the affected UK channels include MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live.
It is understood that they are all set to go off air on December 31.
The shutdown is also expected to extend beyond the UK, with MTV music channels in countries such as Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil likely to be affected.
However, MTV HD, the flagship channel, will remain on air and continue to broadcast reality series like Naked Dating UK and Geordie Shore.
It is said that the decision reflects a shift in consumer habits, as audiences increasingly turn to platforms like YouTube and social media to watch music videos instead of television.
The closures come as Paramount, MTV’s parent company, implements global cost-cutting measures aimed at saving up to $500 million.
As of now, Paramount has not issued an official statement regarding the development.
Speaking about the closure, former MTV video jockey (VJ) Simone Angel expressed sadness and disbelief, admitting that while the decision was long expected, it still “breaks her heart.”
She said that although people now enjoy music online in isolation, MTV once served as a unifying platform that brought everyone together to celebrate artists and music.
“We need to support these artists, and we all need to dance again and listen to music,” she said.
“And I know we do that online in our own little bubbles, but MTV was the place where everything came together. So it really does break my heart.”
MTV launched in the US in 1981 and quickly gained popularity for showing pop videos “on demand,” hosted by energetic video jockeys (VJs) who became stars in their own right.
The channel helped launch the careers of presenters like Cat Deeley, Zane Lowe, and Emma Willis before expanding into hit shows such as Ex On The Beach and Teen Mom UK.
