An era in British television is coming to a close as MTV confirms it will shut down the majority of its dedicated music channels in the UK. The move, effective from 1 January 2026, marks a profound shift for the network that once defined music video broadcasting.
Which MTV channels are closing in the UK?
The sweeping changes will see the closure of five sister channels, leaving only the flagship MTV HD service on air. The channels being removed from UK screens are:
- MTV Music
- MTV 80s
- MTV 90s
- Club MTV
- MTV Live
This represents a dramatic scaling back of MTV's linear television presence in the region, where it has been a fixture for 44 years since its global launch in 1981.
Why is MTV shutting down its music channels?
The primary driver behind the decision is a stark change in viewer habits. Audiences have largely abandoned traditional TV for digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify to consume music content. This migration has led to dwindling viewer numbers on the dedicated music channels, resulting in reduced advertising revenue.
The cuts follow the major corporate merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, which was finalised in 2024. A source described the move to Metro as a "dark day for the music industry," adding that "MTV was once an industry powerhouse but now is a total shell of its former self."
Indeed, the remaining flagship channel now predominantly airs reality TV shows, a far cry from its music video roots. The corporate strategy is now firmly focused on digital and streaming content.
Will the US and other regions face similar cuts?
While it has not been officially confirmed, industry observers believe it is extremely likely that similar themed channels will face cuts in the United States, where viewer trends mirror those in the UK. The UK is not alone in this retreat; MTV has already closed channels in several European territories including Austria, Poland, and France.
The decision brings a short-lived comeback for Club MTV, which was only relaunched in April 2025 after a previous closure in July 2020. Meanwhile, MTV 80s and MTV 90s, which were launched as permanent fixtures in 2022, will have had a brief lifespan of just a few years.
The shutdown brings the story of MTV in the UK full circle in a poignant way. The very first video aired on MTV at its launch on 1 August 1981 was The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star." Now, the relentless shift to on-demand digital consumption appears to have signalled the end for the very channels that revolutionised how we watched music.
