MTV to close three UK channels next week

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: July 13 2020 | 16:58

Last updated: March 30 2021 | 12:27

MTV to close three UK channels next week

MTV is to close down three channels in the UK next Monday, we can confirm.

MTV is to shut down three channels in the UK next week, we can confirm.

MTV Rocks, Club MTV and MTV OMG will all be discontinued next Monday, July 20 - six months after long-running sister channel VH-1 was axed.

The news means that MTV's portfolio of UK channels has shrunk by almost half in 2020, with the main MTV channel, MTV Music, MTV Hits, MTV Base and MTV Classic remaining. Another service, MTV Live HD, operates across Europe and is carried by Virgin Media in the UK.

Latest ratings data suggests that taken together, the three axed channels account for just 0.05% of all TV viewing in the UK and contribute around a fifth of MTV's total ratings.

MTV Rocks - previously known as MTV2 - launched in 1998 and is the home for rock and alternative music, while Club MTV evolved from the MTV Dance channel, which launched in 2001. Pop channel MTV OMG launched just two years ago as a replacement for VIVA.

In a statement, MTV told us: "Music is in our DNA and remains at the heart of MTV. It continues to play an important, prominent role on the main channel, and we will continue to program five channels offering fans 24/7 music, including MTV Music, MTV Hits, MTV Classic, MTV Base and MTV Live HD.

"Club MTV and MTV Rocks fans can now watch newly dedicated Club and Rocks chart shows on MTV Base and MTV Music, respectively. "

Confirmation of the MTV closures comes just weeks after it was announced that Disney has decided to close its UK kids TV channels in October.