Existing channels MTV Base and MTV Classic will close to make way for the new services, as the music broadcaster reinvents its channel portfolio.
The switch will take place on Thursday 31st March 2022. Then MTV 80s will take over from MTV Classic while MTV Base becomes MTV 90s. The channels are available on Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk’s YouView-based service.
The affected channels have been on air since 1999. MTV Base has served as MTV’s dedicated rap, RnB and grime channel. MTV Classic – originally VH1 Classic catered for fans of older music and archive performances.
Viewers have been reassured by MTV that rap, RnB and grime music will continue to be showcased across MTV Music and MTV Hits.
With the change, MTV goes head-to-head with NOW Music, which already offers themed channels covering both decades. That’s TV also overlaps with dedicated 80s music shows.
It’s the second change to MTV’s services within a year. In 2021, it dropped three of its pay TV music channels reflecting a wider shift in how users consume music.
[Image: MTV publicity]