Paramount Global has announced plans to shut down several MTV music channels due to declining viewership, as audiences increasingly turn to platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
Channels affected include MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live, all of which will cease broadcasting permanently by December 31, 2025. The move marks the end of an era for channels that played a key role in shaping youth culture and music trends worldwide.
The main MTV channel will continue to operate, focusing on reality and entertainment content rather than traditional music programming. The shutdown will start in the UK and Ireland, followed by Europe and other international markets, including Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Brazil.
Paramount’s recent merger with Skydance Media has reportedly accelerated the closures, which are part of a broader $500 million global cost-reduction plan.
Launched in 1981, MTV transformed music television long before the rise of digital platforms. In India, MTV debuted in 1996, influencing pop culture and youth-focused programming for decades.
According to The Times of India, MTV Music drew 1.5 million viewers in July 2025, while MTV 90s attracted 949,000, highlighting the declining audience for traditional music TV channels.
