MTV Pulls the Plug on their UK Music Video Channels After Nearly 40 Years
It’s the end of an era: MTV is closing down all its UK music channels at the end of the year, marking the final chapter for a platform that once revolutionised the way we consumed music.
MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live HD will all go off-air on December 31st, leaving just the flagship MTV channel, which hasn’t focused on music for years and now mainly airs reality shows like Geordie Shore and Naked Dating UK.
This move isn’t just happening in the UK — similar cuts are being made in Asia, Latin America, Australia, France, Poland, and more. It’s part of a broader shake-up following a merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, and a push to save $500 million across the company.
MTV: From Music Icon to Reality TV
Launched in the US in 1981, MTV was the world’s first 24-hour music channel, changing the face of entertainment by broadcasting music videos non-stop. In the UK, MTV became a staple of pop culture from the late '90s and 2000s, giving platforms to rising stars like Cat Deeley, Emma Willis, Zane Lowe, and Joel Dommett.
The network delivered unforgettable moments: the premiere of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, wall-to-wall coverage of Live Aid in 1985, and the birth of the MTV Video Music Awards, known for its jaw-dropping performances and pop culture chaos.
But in 2011, MTV’s main UK channel stopped airing music videos altogether, pushing all music content to its sister channels. Now, even those are going dark.
The writing has been on the wall for a while. Music videos today are mostly watched on YouTube, TikTok, and streaming platforms, leaving traditional TV channels behind.
A source close to the network summed it up: “MTV was once an industry powerhouse but now is a total shell of its former self… The channel is a victim of the rise of streaming.”
The decision also comes after earlier layoffs at MTV UK, which saw the cancellation of original shows like Gonzo and Fresh Out UK, and longtime staff losing their jobs. “To say there has been a bloodbath of cuts would be an understatement,” said one insider. “Staff are in tears as some have been there for decades.”
What's Next for MTV?
While MTV’s music channels are going silent, the main channel will carry on—though music won’t be making a comeback there either. Instead, viewers can expect more reality TV.
The brand will still exist on social media and through Paramount+, where some content may live on. But for fans of the days when MTV was the go-to place for music, music news, and pop culture, this marks a hard goodbye.
