MTV Shuts Down 24-Hour Music Channels Worldwide, Ending 44-Year Era of Iconic Music Television and Changing How Fans Experience Music

MTV has officially closed its 24-hour music television channels worldwide. The final broadcasts ran between December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. This ends a 44-year era that began in 1981. The move shows how digital streaming has changed how audiences consume music and entertainment. Traditional music TV is no longer as relevant.

The first music video ever aired on MTV, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles, was also the last video played. MTV was more than a TV station. It introduced global icons, set music and fashion trends and made the music video format famous. For decades, it shaped how fans discovered and experienced music.

Audiences now turn to YouTube, TikTok, and streaming platforms for music. Paramount Global, MTV’s parent company, confirmed that channels such as MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live have stopped broadcasting. Distribution contracts expired late last year. Scheduled music channels cannot compete with on-demand digital viewing.

The 24-hour music channels are gone, but MTV remains. The flagship channel now focuses on reality shows, entertainment, and pop culture content. Music videos are no longer the main focus. The shift reflects how audiences prefer flexible, on-demand programming over linear TV schedules.

The closure of MTV’s music-only channels marks the end of a period when it dominated music television. Fans may miss the iconic era. But MTV adapts to stay relevant in the digital age. The final airing of “Video Killed the Radio Star” is a fitting tribute to a channel that changed how the world watches and experiences music.