No, MTV Didn't Shut Down, Despite Fan Concerns
You may have seen the posts flying around social media, alleging that MTV has shut down. In fact, many of the posts indicate that the music channel shut down with the song “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
Confused fans took to social media. "Wait. MTV shut down all their channels or just music videos?" wrote one.A meme showing an MTV tombstone also flew around X indicating that MTV had shut down after 44 years.
However, it's not true. Variety confirmed that MTV has not shut down for good. So what caused the confusion?
Several 'MTV-Branded' Music Channels Shut Down in the United Kingdom, But MTV Still Exists
(Photo by Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty Images)
According to Variety, on New Year’s Eve, Paramount Skydance "did indeed shut down several MTV-branded music channels in the U.K."
That's what sparked the confusion. “MTV’s specialist music channels in the UK will no longer operate as linear channels," a source told Variety. "The flagship MTV UK channel will continue to broadcast… Paramount is reviewing and adjusting its international Pay TV portfolio, given shifts in audience behavior towards streaming and digital platforms.”
The change affects more than the U.K., Rolling Stone reported, noting, "The decision will affect a slate of channels in the U.K., as well as some in Australia, Poland, France, and Brazil." Added Rolling Stone, "MTV’s flagship channels are still expected to keep broadcasting in the U.K. and elsewhere."
Rolling Stone noted that MTV doesn't only do music television anymore but broadcasts popular reality shows.
The Existing MTV Channels in the U.S. 'Will Continue to Broadcast Without Change,' Reports Say
According to Variety, in the U.S., "the existing MTV channels will continue to broadcast without change — including MTV and MTV2," although MTV's music television format has evolved over the years.
Snopes also debunked the rumor that MTV had shut down completely, which exploded on New Year's Eve 2025.
MTV "had not shut down completely," Snopes noted. However, Snopes noted as well that MTV isn't really focusing on music videos anymore, so the site rated the claims a "mixture of truth and falsehood."
In the U.S., MTV "was still running, except the main channel largely aired reality shows such as 'Ru-Paul's Drag Race' and re-runs of old programs, not solely music videos," Snopes noted.
MTV's website still exists and was listing upcoming shows. "MTV is offered through participating TV providers," the website says, listing a number of providers, ranging from DirecTV to Spectrum. "You can watch select episodes of MTV series on Paramount+ and Pluto TV," the website explained.
MTV does have a channel that airs old music videos called MTV Classic, according to its website, and there were reality shows on the other channels on January 2.