If you grew up in the 90s loving music, fashion and pop culture, MTV had to be your thing. Launched in 1981, this powerhouse channel defined an entire generation. It was all that kids and teens in the 80s and 90s could rave about, and why wouldn’t they? From grunge, hip hop, to pop, it became the centre of their musical dreams.
However, since all good things come to an end, so did MTV. As of January 1, 2026, Paramount Global has shut down MTC’s 24-hour music channels, including MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live, in regions such as Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, Poland, and Brazil.
What Caused the Shutdown?
The shutdown of the 24-hour MTV channels happened because Paramount has decided to reduce costs across the global media portfolio, following its $8.4B merger with Skydance in 2025.
This, however, isn’t the first time that the network has cut programming. Earlier in the year, MTC also paused several award shows, such as the MTV Europe Music Awards and MTV Latin America’s MIAW Awards, due to cost-cutting measures.
Iconic MTV Moments
MTV has had some of the most iconic moments in the history of music and pop culture, and as the 240-hour channels finally cease to exist, it is a good time to go down memory lane and remember a few of them.
Video Killed the Radio Star
On August 1, 1981, when MTV launched in the United States, the very first music video ever aired was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. That single choice became one of the most symbolic moments in pop culture history.
It marked the birth of music video, changed how artists were marketed, shaped pop culture and youth identity, and, in a way, predicted the future of media evolution.
Thriller
Michael Jackson’s Thriller premiered on MTV on December 2, 1983. At the time, MTV was blamed for not playing any Black artists, but Thriller changed everything. It opened doors for countless Black musicians and turned MJ into a global superstar.
More than anything, Thriller became an event. MTV promoted it like a movie premiere, families gathered to watch it together, and everyone was talking about it.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit became a generational shift when it was released on MTV in 1991. Nirvana arrived, and it was unlike anything people had seen. They were messy, anti-glamour and anti-rockstar. Within moments, grunge took over, and people began appreciating raw and vulnerable music.
So, Is MTV Completely Shutting Down?
Not exactly. While the 24-hour music channels that looped back-to-back videos will disappear, MTV’s flagship channel will remain on air, shifting its focus to reality TV and pop-culture programming.
As MTV Music signed off, it played Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles, a nod to the first music video the channel aired in 1991. And even as these channels fade, one thing endures: MTV’s legacy, one that will continue to resonate for generations.
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