MTV’s music video channels sign off after 44 years
After more than four decades on the airwaves, MTV has closed its remaining dedicated music video channels, ending in a full-circle moment.
Source: YouTube/patv.captures
As of January 1, Paramount Global shut down MTV’s 24-hour music channels MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live in regions such as Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, Poland and Brazil.
The decision to cease all 24-hour music channel broadcasts comes after Paramount’s move to reduce costs across its global media portfolio, following its $US8.4 billion ($A12.6 billion) merger with Skydance in 2025.
MTV’s music channel played music videos on a 24-hour loop and was behind landmark events such as the world premiere of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video and a 16-hour broadcast of Live Aid in 1985. The channel also launched the MTV Video Music Awards.
You might like
MTV’s flagship channel will stay on the air and prioritise reality TV and pop culture programming.
As a sign-off, the music channel played the 1979 hit Video Killed The Radio Star, a symbolic choice as it was the first video that MTV aired when it launched in the US in 1981.
After becoming a music tastemaker in the US, MTV expanded to Australia in 1987, airing for six years as a music video show hosted by Richard Wilkins.
MTV was later reintroduced in Australia as a music video channel on Optus Television before being added to Austar and Foxtel.
