Paramount Global Confirms Total Axing of Dedicated MTV Music Stations in Britain Signifying Final Collapse of Linear Video Model
In a move that signifies the definitive end of an era for British music broadcasting, Paramount Global has announced the forthcoming closure of all five of its dedicated MTV music channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The axe will fall on December 31 2025, bringing nearly four decades of linear music video programming to a close. The channels scheduled for shutdown are MTV Music MTV 80s MTV 90s Club MTV and MTV Live HD, leaving only the main flagship MTV channel which is predominantly focused on reality television content. This decision is a direct consequence of the seismic shift in media consumption driven by the unstoppable rise of streaming platforms and the ongoing corporate restructuring following the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
The closure marks a painful cultural moment for a generation who grew up with MTV as the ultimate tastemaker and video countdown authority. While the flagship MTV brand will maintain a presence in the UK largely through its non-music reality and entertainment programming the complete removal of the curated music channels underscores the financial unsustainability of the traditional linear model in the age of YouTube TikTok and Spotify. The core function of music television—introducing new music and showcasing videos—has been almost entirely absorbed by these on-demand digital giants which offer immediate personalized access to an infinite library of content. Why wait for a music video on linear TV when a user can instantly stream it on their phone or smart TV?
The news of the shutdown follows a period of significant cuts and reorganisations within MTV UK. Earlier this year the network axed its local music production including shows like Gonzo and Fresh Out UK with a resulting "bloodbath of cuts" that left long serving staff devastated. This earlier move was a clear harbinger of the final closure of the channels themselves with the focus pivoting to international content and, crucially, digital and social media output. The future of the MTV brand in the UK will be one primarily driven by Paramount Plus, the company’s streaming service, which will be the primary destination for its content including global music events like the MTV Video Music Awards.
MTV first brought its unique blend of music culture and entertainment to the UK in 1987. For years it served as a vital cultural springboard launching the careers of countless artists and VJs including Kelly Brook Emma Willis and Cat Deeley. The channel’s demise reflects a broader decline in linear music television. Last year Channel 4 also closed its portfolio of music video channels including The Box Kiss Magic and Kerrang! citing plummeting revenues and dwindling audience share. For music fans the departure of the remaining MTV music channels represents a significant loss of curated, broadcast-quality music programming further consolidating the media landscape into a handful of huge streaming and social media companies and removing a platform that, for better or worse, helped define the popular music culture of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The decision confirms that in the UK market at least the traditional music television channel is now completely obsolete.