End of an era: MTV switches off 24-hour music channels

LONDON: After more than four decades on air, MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music video channels have officially gone dark in major markets around the world, marking the end of a defining era in music television.

The final broadcast on many of the channels closed on Jan 1, 2026, ending the journey with The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” — the same song that launched MTV when it first debuted in August 1981.

MTV’s music-only channels — including MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live — have ceased broadcasting across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, Brazil and other regions as contracts expired and distribution ended.

The decision comes amid a broader strategic shift by parent company Paramount Global, which merged with Skydance Media in 2025 to form Paramount Skydance and is prioritising streaming and reality-based content over traditional linear music television.

MTV’s flagship channel remains on air in some markets but now focuses largely on reality shows and entertainment programming rather than round-the-clock music videos.

For many fans, the sign-off was a poignant cultural moment — MTV’s transition from playing pop and rock videos to reality formats mirrored changes in how audiences consume music.

Once a global cultural force that introduced artists and trends to generations, MTV helped define youth culture long before the age of YouTube, Spotify and TikTok.

In addition to the symbolic final song on MTV Music, other channels chose fitting fare for their closures — for example, Spice Girls’ “Goodbye” on MTV 90s — turning the sign-off into a moment of collective nostalgia among viewers.

Industry analysts say the shutdown reflects sharply evolving viewing habits, with music video discovery now dominated by online platforms where audiences can instantly access content on demand, a stark contrast to the scheduled programming model that dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s.

Paramount’s restructuring also included wider cost-cutting measures, aimed at saving hundreds of millions of dollars as media companies adapt to a landscape where streaming, digital content and short-form video reign supreme.

For many former viewers and music fans, the silhouette of the iconic MTV logo still evokes memories of a time when music television was the heartbeat of pop culture — even as the industry moves into a new digital future.