On December 31, 2025, television history turned a page; MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music channels officially shut down, bringing to a close the last remnants of the network’s original identity as a music-video broadcaster. This marks the end of a 44-year era that changed how the world discovered music, shaped youth culture, and defined an entire generation’s relationship with artists and pop culture.
MTV (Music Television) launched in the United States on August 1, 1981, and it did so with a moment that would become legendary in pop culture history. The very first music video it ever aired was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles; a symbolic choice that foreshadowed the network’s influence on music, media, and youth culture for decades to come.
It didn’t take long for MTV to grow beyond the United States:
- MTV Europe debuted in 1987, bringing music videos and youth content to a new international audience.
- Over the years, dozens of region-specific and genre-specific MTV music channels launched from MTV 80s and MTV 90s to MTV Live and Club MTV, each dedicated to a different slice of music culture around the world.
These channels became destinations for fans who wanted curated playlists, countdown shows, exclusive artist interviews, and live performances all on television 24 hours a day.
Despite its global influence, the way people consume music began shifting long before 2025. Two major trends transformed the media landscape:
1. The Rise of Streaming and On-Demand Platforms
Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, and social media made on-demand music discovery the norm. Instead of waiting for a scheduled block of videos on TV, fans could find exactly what they wanted instantly, anytime and anywhere.
2. Changes in MTV’s Own Programming
Over time, MTV itself began to evolve. What was once mostly music videos eventually shifted toward reality TV, pop culture series, and entertainment programming. Shows like The Real World, Jersey Shore, Catfish, and Ridiculousness drew audiences in, but also moved MTV further away from its original music focus.
By 2025, the five remaining dedicated music channels MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live were among the few places music videos still played on linear TV. But even these struggled to draw large audiences compared to digital platforms.
On October 12, 2025, MTV’s parent company Paramount Global announced that these five iconic music channels would permanently cease broadcasting by December 31, 2025 as part of a major corporate restructuring and cost-cutting effort. This global decision was driven by several factors:
- Declining linear television viewership for music video channels
- Streaming and social platforms dominating music discovery
- Paramount’s broader strategic shift toward digital and streaming content
- The merger with Skydance Media and cost-reduction priorities
In a poetic nod to its beginnings, MTV Music signed off on New Year’s Eve with the same song that launched the network — “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. Each of MTV’s dedicated music channels chose its own final farewell video, but the flagship channel’s choice stood out as a symbolic bookend to an incredible journey.