MTV officially stops broadcasting legendary music channels after more than 40 years

On December 31, 2025, MTV's sub-channels such as MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live will all close globally.

Paramount Global announced the decision to permanently close five popular MTV music channels on December 31, 2025 - Photo: Getty Images

The decision comes nearly 44 years after MTV captured the hearts of millions around the world and shaped the worlds of music, fashion and pop culture.

A spokesman for Paramount, MTV's parent company, declined to comment.

The digital age change ends the golden era

The decision is part of a global restructuring strategy aimed at cutting costs and adapting to changes in the way audiences access music.

This move reflects the inevitable transformation of the entertainment industry. In recent decades, viewers have moved away from television music videos and towards digital platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, TikTok or Apple Music, where they can enjoy music anytime, anywhere and according to their personal preferences.

Born in 1981, MTV was once considered the home of music, the birthplace of the music video concept and brought a series of stars such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Nirvana, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé closer to the global public.

Iconic moments like Thriller (Michael Jackson), Like a Virgin (Madonna) or the MTV Video Music Awards ceremonies once captivated the world, shaping the visual and audio culture of an entire generation - Photo: Rolling Stone

Paramount decided to focus its resources on more commercial content, such as reality TV and pop entertainment.

According to The Desk, viewership of MTV music channels has declined sharply, especially in Europe and the US, markets that were once the "cradle" of MTV.

The main MTV channel (flagship channel) will still be maintained, but the focus will now be on reality shows, documentaries and unscripted content, instead of music streaming as before.

The closure of MTV music channels has left many viewers expressing regret, as this is not just a technical change, but the end of the golden era of music television.

From now on, music is no longer viewed through the TV screen but through the phone, where people choose their own playlists, videos and favorite artists.

MTV - an icon of 20th-century pop culture - is now closing its historic role to make way for the streaming age.

MTV Vietnam officially stopped broadcasting on January 1, 2023, saying goodbye to 12 years of operation of MTV Vietnam.

MAI NGUYET

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mtv-chinh-thuc-ngung-phat-song-cac-kenh-nhac-huyen-thoai-sau-hon-40-nam-20251013124300191.htm