The final day has arrived. After decades of defining music television in the UK (and the world), MTV’s dedicated music channels have gone dark – marking the end of an era for anyone who grew up watching music videos on the telly.
As of today, December 31, 2025, five MTV music channels – MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live – have ceased broadcasting on Sky, Virgin Media and other platforms around the world.
The channels will disappear from Sky and Virgin Media’s electronic programme guides on January 6, 2026, alongside several children’s channels from the Pop family.
Which MTV Channels Are Closing?
The shutdown affects all of MTV’s remaining dedicated music video channels in the UK:
MTV Music (Sky 350, Virgin Media 280) – The flagship music channel that launched in 2011, playing non-stop music videos, live performances and artist interviews.
MTV 80s (Sky 353, Virgin Media 284) – Dedicated to the decade of synthpop, new wave and hair metal, from Duran Duran to Madonna.
MTV 90s (Sky 352, Virgin Media 283) – The ultimate throwback to Britpop, girl power and the golden age of hip-hop.
Club MTV (Sky 351, Virgin Media 282) – Dance music and club anthems, which only relaunched in April 2025 after replacing MTV Hits.
MTV Live (Virgin Media 281) – Broadcasting live performances and music specials from across Europe.
All five channels broadcast their final music videos today before going off air permanently.
The main MTV HD channel (Sky 126, Virgin Media 134) will remain available, but it’s been a reality television channel for years now – you’ll find far more episodes of Teen Mom UK, Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach than actual music videos these days (but it does air a few music video collections, mostly late at night).
MTV HD Remains A Gradual Retreat From Music
MTV’s shift away from music videos has been happening for well over a decade.
Back in February 2011, MTV removed all music programming from its main channel and launched MTV Music as a separate service. The main MTV channel moved to the entertainment section of Sky’s EPG and became focused on reality shows – a position it’s held ever since.
That decision was part of the change to how we consume music. By 2011, YouTube had already become the go-to destination for music videos, while Spotify and other streaming services were changing how we discovered new artists.
For MTV, the writing was on the wall – traditional music television couldn’t compete with on-demand streaming and personalised playlists.
Photo: Deposit Photos / Monticell
The music channels that launched to fill the gap – MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s and others – kept the flame burning for those who still enjoyed the curated, lean-back experience of linear music television.
But even those channels were fighting a losing battle.
MTV Hits closed in April 2025, replaced by a revived Club MTV. Various other MTV-branded channels disappeared over the years, from MTV Base to MTV Classic, each closure another sign that the traditional music television model was no longer commercially viable.
Why Are The Channels Closing?
The decision comes from Paramount Global, MTV’s parent company, which is implementing cost-cutting measures of $500 million across its global portfolio.
This follows Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media in 2025, with the newly combined entity looking to streamline operations and focus resources on streaming platforms rather than traditional linear television.
But the money side of things only tells half the story. The reality is that young viewers – MTV’s core audience – have largely moved on from scheduled TV programming.
In July 2025, MTV Music had 1.3 million viewers, while MTV 90s pulled in an audience of 949,000 for the month, according to BARB. Those are respectable numbers, but nowhere near enough to justify keeping the channels running in today’s media landscape.
Music videos are now consumed on-demand, personalised to individual tastes, and often discovered through TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels and streaming platforms rather than scheduled programming.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Why wait for your favourite song to come on when you can just search for it?
The closures aren’t limited to the UK either. MTV’s music channels are also shutting down in Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil as part of the same global restructuring.
Earlier in 2025, Paramount also cancelled several MTV UK productions, including Gonzo (presented by Radio 1’s Jack Saunders) and Fresh Out UK, further reducing the broadcaster’s local presence.
What’s Left For Music Television?
With MTV’s music channels gone, the options for traditional music television in the UK have become remarkably limited.
The NOW music channels – NOW 70s, NOW 80s, NOW 90s & 00s, NOW Rock and Clubland TV – remain available on Sky and Virgin Media, operated by Universal Music UK.
These channels arrived on Sky Glass and Stream last year, and continue to provide music video programming for those who still enjoy the traditional TV experience.
There are also a handful of smaller music channels scattered across the EPG, including some regional offerings from That’s TV.
But let’s be honest – the golden age of music television is well and truly over.
MTV’s withdrawal from dedicated music programming marks the final chapter in a story that began when MTV launched in the United States in 1981 with The Buggles‘ Video Killed the Radio Star.
The irony, of course, is that streaming and social media have now killed the music television channel.
The Pop Channels Also Close Today
MTV isn’t the only broadcaster saying goodbye to linear television today.
Pop and Tiny Pop – two children’s channels from Narrative Entertainment – are also closing on Sky and Virgin Media as of December 31, 2025.
Pop (Sky 613, Sky Glass/Stream 213) and Tiny Pop (Sky 614, Sky Glass/Stream 214) will cease broadcasting on traditional pay-TV platforms, along with their +1 timeshift services.
The POP Player
The channels aren’t disappearing entirely – Pop will continue as a streaming-only FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel on Freeview and smart TV platforms.
But their removal from Sky and Virgin Media represents another blow to children’s linear television in the UK.
Pop has been a fixture of UK children’s television for over 22 years, originally launching in 2003. Tiny Pop followed in 2004 as a channel for younger children and pre-schoolers.
The closure reflects the same pressures facing MTV – young audiences have abandoned traditional TV in favour of streaming platforms and YouTube.
When kids can watch whatever they want, whenever they want on YouTube or Netflix, scheduled children’s channels simply can’t compete anymore.
All eight channels will remain visible on Sky and Virgin Media’s electronic programme guides until January 6, 2026, when they’ll be removed entirely.
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