MTV to shutdown their music channels after 40 years

Music

MTV to shutdown their music channels after 40 years

MTV have announced that they will end continuous video programming. They are to terminate five of their channels at the end of the year.

MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live will all go off-air after December 31, though the flagship MTV HD will continue, featuring reality shows like Naked Dating UK and Geordie Shore.

Launched in 1981 in the United States of America, MTV became the symbol of pop culture. MTV presented iconic moments such as he world premiere of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and the 16-hour broadcast of Live Aid in 1985.

Since then the viewing habits of consumers has vastly changed as YouTube & Social Media being more favourable platform to view music videos.

The BBC contacted a paramount spokesperson but they declined to comment.

Historic MTV highlights included the debut of Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video, Live Aid’s broadcast, and the launch of the MTV Video Music Awards.

Scene of Micheal Jackson's hit song 'Thriller' which was broadcasted on MTV — Scene of Micheal Jackson’s hit song ‘Thriller’

After MTV’s American success in the 1980s, MTV Europe began in 1987, followed by a UK version in 1997, which launched with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s football hit Three Lions.

David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s football hit song Three Lions which was broadcasted on MTV — David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s football hit song Three Lions

Over the last two decades, MTV has begun to focus more on original shows such as Ex On The Beach and Teen Mom UK.

In 2011, its main channel stopped playing music videos entirely, shifting them to sister stations. T

The MTV European Music Awards, will be it’s last major music event, though it is currently postponed as Paramount completes a merger with Skydance Media.

Although it was approved in July, no decision have been made on the future of the EMA’s.

Reports suggest Paramount will also shut down MTV music channels in Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil. The closures follow MTV briefly reviving round-the-clock music videos ahead of this year’s VMAs.