On December 31, 2025, several MTV music channels ceased broadcasting, marking the end of an era that has influenced generations of music lovers. This closure has left many viewers surprised not just by the suddenness of the shutdown, but by its muted farewell. The final song played on MTV Music was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles, the same track that debuted the network in the United States on August 1, 1981. For those who grew up with MTV, this moment felt like a poignant farewell.
Despite the emotional impact on long-time fans, MTV is not disappearing entirely. While multiple dedicated music channels have been removed from airwaves in various regions, the flagship MTV channel will continue to broadcast a range of programming, including popular series such as The Challenge and RuPaul’s Drag Race. According to People, the move to eliminate these music channels was first announced in October 2025.
The channels that have ended their broadcasts include MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live. The BBC reported that viewers across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia, and Brazil have been affected by this decision. Each channel signed off with its own unique tribute—MTV Music concluded with “Video Killed the Radio Star,” while MTV 90s ended with the Spice Girls’ “Goodbye.”
For anyone attempting to tune in now, the experience is stark. Viewers are met with a looping screen cycling through MTV channel logos, accompanied by a message guiding them to MTV content available on the main channel, MTV HD. Neither MTV nor its parent company, Paramount, has provided an official explanation for this significant change.
The silence surrounding the closure has led fans to speculate about the reasoning behind it, especially considering the timing. Earlier in 2025, MTV had already paused several awards shows, including the MTV Europe Music Awards and the MTV Latin America’s MIAW Awards, as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative. This was linked to Paramount’s £6.3 billion ($8 billion) merger with Skydance, finalized in August 2025, as reported by the Associated Press.
In May 2023, MTV News was also shut down after 36 years, with executives citing “pressure from broader economic headwinds,” according to a statement from Chris McCarthy, President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. The loss of these channels resonates deeply with many viewers, as former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes expressed, framing the shutdown as painful yet unsurprising: “While it’s a bit sad, it’s been a bit sad for a while. I think MTV had its time and history; that time will never repeat, and it’s time to change.”
Fuentes noted the necessity of evolution, saying, “We all change. We have to evolve. And I hope that there’s another version of them, just like there’s another version of us.” Her words highlight a reality where nostalgia does not sustain operational costs, as music consumption increasingly shifts towards on-demand platforms.
While the finality of MTV’s 24/7 music model is a significant cultural shift, it underscores a broader transformation in how audiences engage with music. The closure of these channels signifies not just the end of an era, but also a reminder that the landscape of music consumption has changed dramatically in recent years. As fans reflect on the legacy of MTV, they face the reality that the way music is discovered and enjoyed continues to evolve, leaving behind a rich history that shaped popular culture for decades.
