January 2, 2026: In a poetic full-circle moment, several of MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music channels officially ceased broadcasting at midnight on December 31, 2025.
The shutdown, which affected international markets including the U.K., Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil, marks the end of a 44-year era that redefined how the world consumed music and youth culture.
A Symbolic Final Sign-Off
To commemorate the closure, MTV Music aired one final music video: the 1979 synth-pop classic “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. The choice was deeply symbolic, as the same track was the very first video ever broadcast during MTV’s U.S. launch on August 1, 1981.
While MTV Music opted for its historical roots, other regional channels chose era-appropriate goodbyes:
- MTV 90s: Signed off with the Spice Girls’ 1997 hit “Goodbye.”
- MTV 00s: Closed its curtains with NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”
- Club MTV: Ended its run with Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music.”
- MTV Live: Concluded with Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.”
The Shift to Reality TV and Streaming
The decision by parent company Paramount Global follows a massive $500 million cost-cutting strategy following its merger with Skydance Media. While the music-only feeds are gone, the flagship MTV HD channel remains on air in most regions. However, its programming has almost entirely pivoted away from music videos toward reality franchises like Catfish, The Challenge, and Ridiculousness.
Industry analysts attribute the closure to the “digital takeover” of music discovery. With platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify dominating how Gen Z and Alpha engage with artists, the traditional linear “music television” model saw a sharp decline. In the U.K. alone, viewership for these niche channels had dropped to modest figures—MTV Music drew roughly 1.3 million viewers in its final months, a fraction of its 1990s peak.
What Remains?
Fans in the United States will see the least immediate change, as MTV US and MTV Classic continue to broadcast for now. Additionally, the brand is expected to transition its music library into a digital-first experience on Paramount+, with CEO David Ellison hinting at future plans to “revitalize” the brand for the streaming age.