MTV Movie & TV Awards, CMTs and more just got shelved. Why Paramount is hitting pause on marquee shows.

MTV Movie & TV Awards, CMTs and more just got shelved. Why Paramount is hitting pause on marquee shows.

For the second year in a row, the MTV Movie & TV Awards show are on ice.

The decision follows last year’s cancellation, which came after the 2023 edition pivoted to a pre-taped format when Drew Barrymore withdrew as host in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.

The latest pause comes as Paramount Global — which owns CBS, Paramount Pictures and cable networks such as Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV — undergoes significant restructuring ahead of its anticipated merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, a deal expected to close in the first half of this year, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

As part of that shake-up, several marquee awards shows, including the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and the CMT Music Awards, have been shelved while the company reinvents its tentpole event strategy.

A Nickelodeon spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo Entertainment that the annual Kids’ Choice Awards in the U.S. will move forward as planned, with an official date expected to be announced “in the next month or so.”

While the Paramount-Skydance merger has been widely cited as a driving force behind these decisions, a big question remains: What does the future hold for these awards, and are they at risk of disappearing altogether?

Which awards shows are affected?

In a companywide memo sent last month, Paramount president Bruce Gillmer framed the decision to cancel several awards shows as part of a broader effort to “reimagine and optimize our events slate going forward,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Among the shows under review are:

  • The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs)

  • Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico

  • The MTV MIAWs (formerly the MTV Millennial Awards), which honors Latin American music and youth culture

Paramount’s highest-profile events — the Video Music Awards (VMAs) and the U.S. edition of the Kids’ Choice Awards — remain unaffected, according to the outlet.

Corporate merger or deeper problems?

Gillmer’s memo came amid Paramount’s aggressive cost-cutting measures, which have reshaped the company over the past year.

In August 2024, Paramount announced plans to slash its U.S. workforce by 15% in a bid to save $500 million. That same month, Variety reported that the company posted a massive operating loss, writing down $5.98 billion on the value of its cable TV networks.

The first round of layoffs soon followed, leading to the closure of Paramount TV Studios and the departure of several high-profile executives. A second wave in the fall hit major divisions like CBS News, with additional restructuring expected as the merger progresses.

Yahoo Entertainment contacted representatives at Paramount but have had no response.

Jelly Roll at the 2024 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas. (Taylor Hill/WireImage via Getty Images)

Ratings for MTV and CMT Awards

The MTV Movie & TV Awards, which launched in 1992 as a celebration of blockbuster films before expanding to include television in 2017, is currently on indefinite pause.

The last live event, in 2023, saw a slight ratings increase, drawing 2 million viewers across various platforms, up from 1.6 million in 2022, according to the Wrap. The 2021 broadcast, hosted by Leslie Jones, brought in 1.3 million viewers. In 2020, the event was canceled due to the pandemic and replaced with a Greatest of All Time special hosted by Vanessa Hudgens.

As of now, there are no plans to bring the show back or to formally retire it, according to multiple outlets.

Similarly, the CMT Music Awards have also been placed on hold as Paramount reassesses its awards show strategy.

However, unlike MTV’s show, the CMTs have remained a strong ratings performer. The 2024 broadcast drew 5.38 million viewers on CBS, following 5.43 million in 2023 and 5.16 million in 2022, according to Variety.

What this means for future shows

Paramount isn’t scrapping all of its awards franchises, including the VMAs, which drew more than 4 million viewers last year.

However, as the company navigates its merger with Skydance and seeks to cut costs, it’s unclear whether the awards shows will return in their previous form. Whether that’s due to financial necessity or simply a case of reimagining its approach remains to be seen.

You can view the original article HERE.

‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Will Recon Video Game in One Way
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Will Recon Video Game in One Way
Remembering Beloved Character Actor Biff Wiff
Remembering Beloved Character Actor Biff Wiff
SXSW Film Festival 2025: Are We Good?, I’m Carl Lewis!, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror | Festivals & Awards
SXSW Film Festival 2025: Are We Good?, I’m Carl Lewis!, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror | Festivals & Awards
The Best Korean Dramas About CEOs
The Best Korean Dramas About CEOs
“We tried to go against the grain”
“We tried to go against the grain”
I have never felt more clear
I have never felt more clear
Watch Robyn join Jamie xx on stage in Copenhagen for ‘Life’
Watch Robyn join Jamie xx on stage in Copenhagen for ‘Life’
All ‘Fragpunk’ codes for March 2025
All ‘Fragpunk’ codes for March 2025
10 Best Obscure Biopics To Check Out
10 Best Obscure Biopics To Check Out
10 Best Heartfelt Moments in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’
10 Best Heartfelt Moments in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’
Days of Our Lives Spoilers For The Week of 3-17-25 Bring A Legendary Character Back For The Most Heartbreaking Reason
Days of Our Lives Spoilers For The Week of 3-17-25 Bring A Legendary Character Back For The Most Heartbreaking Reason
Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rambo’ Was Inspired by Real WWII Vet Audie Murphy
Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rambo’ Was Inspired by Real WWII Vet Audie Murphy
Report: Vikings acquire Mason from 49ers
Report: Vikings acquire Mason from 49ers
Flagg to miss Duke’s ACC Tournament final vs. Louisville
Flagg to miss Duke’s ACC Tournament final vs. Louisville
Report: Bengals closing in on extensions for Chase, Higgins
Report: Bengals closing in on extensions for Chase, Higgins
Duke’s Flagg helped off court after spraining ankle
Duke’s Flagg helped off court after spraining ankle
Travis Barker Scores Impressive Time at Los Angeles 5K
Travis Barker Scores Impressive Time at Los Angeles 5K
‘All I wanted to do was make people smile’
‘All I wanted to do was make people smile’
Eva Longoria’s Hottest Shots For Her 50th Birthday
Eva Longoria’s Hottest Shots For Her 50th Birthday
MTV Movie & TV Awards, CMTs and more just got shelved. Why Paramount is hitting pause on marquee shows.
MTV Movie & TV Awards, CMTs and more just got shelved. Why Paramount is hitting pause on marquee shows.
RASA Is Redefining Live Entertainment—And You’re Invited to Experience It at Six Flags Magic Mountain
RASA Is Redefining Live Entertainment—And You’re Invited to Experience It at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Beyond the Pose: The Artistic Vision of Ines Trocchia in Fashion
Beyond the Pose: The Artistic Vision of Ines Trocchia in Fashion
Free People Amber One-Piece Swimsuit Review With Photos
Free People Amber One-Piece Swimsuit Review With Photos
Ashley Graham Will Make Her Broadway Debut In “Chicago”!
Ashley Graham Will Make Her Broadway Debut In “Chicago”!