MTV Did Not Shut Down on New Year’s Eve, Despite Social Media Freakout

If you scrolled through social media on New Year’s Eve, you might have thought MTV had finally kicked the bucket. Posts claiming the network “officially shut down” went viral faster than a TikTok dance trend. Relax. MTV is very much alive. What actually happened was a more modest end-of-year shakeup: several music-focused channels quietly went dark, leaving fans nostalgic for the days when the network actually played music.

On December 31, 2025, MTV retired its music-only channels—MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live—in several countries. These channels had been running 24-hour music video programming for decades, which apparently is a format no one really needs anymore now that streaming and on-demand platforms exist. Meanwhile, the main MTV channel is still broadcasting, showing reality shows, competitions, and pop culture content that, let’s face it, is probably what most viewers were already watching anyway.

The music industry has changed a lot since MTV ruled the airwaves. Fans no longer rush home after school to catch a video premiere, they stream it instantly or find it online. But for a generation that grew up on MTV, shows like Total Request Live were serious business. It was appointment television in its truest form: vote for your favorite video, catch the newest hits, and witness cultural moments before anyone else. MTV didn’t just play music—it set trends and shaped how teens engaged with pop culture, one music video at a time.

So yes, the music-only channels are gone, but let’s be clear: MTV itself is not. The network continues to broadcast reality hits and pop culture staples, while keeping its digital presence active. This is not a death knell—it’s a pivot. The network is adapting to modern viewing habits, and yes, fans can still binge the shows that actually dominate ratings today.and.

Will you miss these channels? Sound off in the comments.