MTV parent company Paramount Global has announced five channels will be shutdown across Europe, Australia, and Brazil, effective December 31, 2025: MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV Live, and Club MTV. While the main MTV channel will continue to be broadcast, it will focus on reality shows and other content.
So far there have been no indications of corresponding shutdowns here in the United States, but one has to wonder, is this the beginning of the end of MTV?
While MTV no doubt has nostalgic value for a great many music lovers, it’s decline is not altogether surprising. Traditional broadcast & cable TV has been in decline for at least the past decade, as viewers shift to streaming & on-demand platforms. And why not? Being able to watch what you want, when you want — and not being subject to an arbitrary broadcast schedule — is an objectively better experience.
MTV occupied a special niche, but it failed to adapt to the times. Few would dispute the wide influence music videos continue to have, but since the launch of YouTube in 2005, and other digital platforms since, there has been a marked shift in the way people consume content.
The news may sadden those who grew up watching MTV. Many fans are no doubt disappointed, with the end of MTV bringing an end to a part of their childhood. Meanwhile, commenters on social media point out the company has no one else to blame but itself. One X user said, “From what I understand, MTV stopped being a true music channel quite some time ago. It gradually shifted its focus toward superficial reality shows that initially gained attention when audiences had limited alternatives. However, as viewers were exposed to better and more meaningful content elsewhere, the shortcomings of what they had been consuming became clear. It is unfortunate that MTV failed to evolve with changing trends and lost the cultural relevance it once held.”
“MTV didn’t evolve with time; they should’ve launched their app years ago for the users to listen to music on the go,” states another.
