Paramount Is Working To “Reimagine” MTV, Leading To The Cancellations Of Ridiculousness And Possible MTV Base Africa

According to "unverified sources", MTV Base is expected to close on DStv by 31 December 2025 as it forms part of Paramount's Pan-European feeds which would see various music channels close. As Paramount wants to shift it's focus on growing the main MTV brand.

MTV Base was launched on DStv by February 2005 offering a mixture of locally produced content and international hits. Overtime, it was expanded to include reality shows like MTV Shuga even award shows from Paramount's other cable networks.

It was ranked as the #1 music destination in West Africa ahead of rivals such as TRACE Urban and SoundCity. Now Paramount is looking to shutter the brand in Africa for several reasons.

A few months ago, Paramount finalised it's acquisition by Skydance and plans are underway to shed $2 billion costs. This includes closing various MTV channels across the world and cancellations to Ridiculousness and Catfish: The TV Show.

Similar to what M-Net did with Me and 1Magic or what Disney did with Disney Junior and Disney XD in some parts of the world. Paramount wants to put all its effort improving the situation regarding MTV.

For several years, Ridiculousness was the channel's Teen Titans GO! which took at one point took over 80% of the channel's schedule. To top it off, secondary networks such as MTV Base had been causing division if not stealing potential viewers.

Paramount wants to revamp MTV's content slate in order for it to better compete with NBCUniversal's Bravo with more doccies, reality shows and music. They want to move away from heavy reliance on viral video reactions and marathon reruns.