After 44 years on air, MTV’s music channels in Europe are set to go dark by December 31, marking the end of a cultural era. Fans will bid farewell to MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live, beginning with closures in the UK and Ireland, followed by France, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Hungary, and also in Australia and Brazil.
Paramount Global, the entertainment company behind MTV, cited both business and cultural reasons for the decision. The closures come amid cost-cutting measures and the company’s ongoing merger with Skydance Media, but also reflect the broader shift in viewing habits, with music fans increasingly turning to digital and streaming platforms.
Beloved by generations for its music videos, countdown charts, and pop culture programming, the channels helped define how audiences discovered music for decades. Thanks to MTV, many music genres thrived and reached new audiences, and numerous artists became famous beyond belief. From the birth of the VJ to the glamour of the VMAs, the channel is rooted in pop culture. Click through and celebrate MTV's legacy in this gallery.