MTV shuts down all 24-hour music channels while main channel remains

Collider reports that on New Year's Eve all of MTV's 24-hour music channels were shut down, including MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live, though the main MTV channel will continue to operate. The change follows a longer shift away from music programming: MTV's full shift away from music programming came in October 2025, when it was announced that the UK was shutting down five auxiliary channels.

Reporting notes the main channel's programming will vary widely and now leans heavily on reality TV rather than music, a transition linked in the piece to the Paramount–Skydance merger and studio chief David Ellison's broader reshaping of the company. The last video MTV Music aired was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.

Reactions have been mixed. In a piece for Esquire, Dave Holmes argued that sensational headlines overstated MTV's demise, and reports have it as one of the most popular cable networks in the world. Former MTV DJ Daisy Fuentes told People, "While it's a bit sad, it's been a bit sad for a while.

Key Topics

Culture, Mtv, Mtv Music, Paramount, Skydance, David Ellison