Across the UK, European Union and here in the states, MTV‘s music-only TV programming — MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live — will shut down today.
My understanding is that there are several reasons why MTV’s music-only TV programming is closing up shop: Shifting viewing habits, declining audience engagement, corporate restructuring and cost-cutting measures, as well as a change in focus from linear channels to digital and streaming platforms.
I spent a significant portion of my childhood — between roughly 8 and 19 or so — obsessively watching MTV. Matt Pinfield is a hero of mine — because of MTV. I remember watching MTV News with Kurt Loder telling the world that Kurt Cobain had died, and feeling absolutely heartbroken.
As a child of MTV, I’m sad to hear of MTV’s death as a channel. But I’m also not surprised.
I want my MTV! I want my MTV!
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