Paramount Skydance to Shut Five MTV Music Channels in UK and Ireland on Dec. 31, 2025
The move reflects a post‑merger drive to cut roughly $500 million in costs driven by the shift from linear music TV to streaming.
Overview
- MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live will go off air in the UK and Ireland at the end of 2025, according to the company.
- Flagship MTV HD will continue broadcasting its regular schedule despite the shutdown of secondary music channels.
- Paramount Skydance framed the closures as part of portfolio prioritization following the July 2025 merger.
- The company is considering similar channel cuts in additional markets, with local reports citing Australia, Poland, France and Brazil, and the U.S. outcome remains uncertain.
- The decision tracks with years of audience migration to digital platforms, as MTV reduced music video programming around 2011 and streaming now dominates industry revenue per IFPI data.