MTV, an American cable television channel that was the world’s first 24-hour music broadcasting channel, plans to stop providing its music streaming channels to the United Kingdom by the end of the year. MTV is expected to close five of its six channels in the UK after forty years of service.
While the majority of their channels are expected to go on the air, their flagship channel, MTV HD, will still be available as it is not a music channel and usually plays reality series. The change comes in response to how audiences’ consumption of music videos has changed over time, with more listeners using YouTube instead of TV, thanks to the benefits of a personalized experience.
YouTube and other similar services have killed the desire for music TV channels. YouTube and other platforms like it allow the users to curate a playlist of songs that they enjoy and let them have control over what music they hear. Meanwhile, MTV music channels provide a 24-hour non-stop stream of songs, but you have little to no control over which songs are playing.
The closing of the channels in the UK is expected to be done in other countries as well. Paramount has been doing layoffs, and MTV is expected to be one of the first to go. Channels in Brazil, France, and Australia are expected to be shut down next if rumors are to be believed.
With so many layoffs to be expected from Paramount and the declining desire for music TV channels, it is only expected that older, outdated services will be retired in favor of new, more profitable ventures. While many will be sad to see the channels go, they can at least look forward to what Paramount will do to replace the void they have created.
