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MTV first debuted in the US on Aug. 1, 1981, adding MTV Europe to their slate in Aug. 1987
This fall, MTV announced that MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live would shutter at the year's end
The closures impact viewers in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil
MTV chose to end its reign as a music network just as it began.
The 24-hour music broadcaster that became an international phenomenon in the 1980s has aired its final hours. The UK and Ireland were the first to bid farewell to MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live. France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil will also be impacted, per theBBC.
MTV debuted in Aug. 1981 in the US, with a debut in the UK and Ireland in August 1987. The channel's debutteased music videos from the day's biggest artists—Prince,Whitney HoustonandGeorge Michael.
It's been over 10 years since the main MTV channel in these localities stopped airing music videos daily, shifting the focus to reality TV to meet viewers' shifting interests. Music videos were then relegated to the sister stations, except for the annual MTV European Music Awards.
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MTV Music's last song was Video Killed The Radio Starpic.twitter.com/48WNnbgesb
— Jono Read (@jonoread)December 31, 2025
After 38 years of introducing fans to different artists and genres, MTV Music, the flagship channel, chose to end its run the way MTV began, playing the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."
BBC journalist Jono Read shared the moment the channel went off-air in a videopostedto X. Each channel aired a different final video. MTV 90s airedSpice Girls' "Goodbye."
Viewers who try to tune in to these channels now see a scene cycling through the affected channel's logos, with a chyron noting that they can access MTV content on the main channel, MTV HD.
Neither MTV or its parent company, Paramount Skydance, have commented on the brand's future in the United States.
On August 1st, 1981, at 12:01 AM EST, the MTV channel was officially launched nationwide in the USA, with the spoken words of "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll," followed by the MTV theme song, and then followed by MTV's first music video: "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the…pic.twitter.com/L6uEb52IpT
— History Defined (@historydefined)December 6, 2025
In 2025, PEOPLE spoke with former MTV DJ and television personalityDaisy Fuentesabout the era of change at MTV.
"I thought, while it's a bit sad, it's been a bit sad for a while. I think MTV had its time and history that time will never repeat, and it's time to change," Fuentes shares.
"We all change. We have to evolve. And I hope that there's another version of them, just like there's another version of us, us who were part of that we're no longer the same. Why should we expect them to be? The world has changed so much."
As for the future, she continues, "I'm curious to see its evolution. It could be great. I think change is good. I think it's time. It will always be part of our youth."
Read the original article onPeople
