For the second consecutive year, the MTV Movie & TV Awards show is on indefinite hold. This decision follows a tumultuous year for the awards, which saw last year’s event pivot to a pre-taped format after host Drew Barrymore withdrew in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. The cancellation of the 2024 ceremony marks a significant moment in the landscape of entertainment awards, raising questions about the future of such events in an industry undergoing substantial changes.
The latest pause comes amid a broader restructuring at Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, Paramount Pictures, and various cable networks, including MTV. This restructuring is part of an anticipated merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, a deal expected to close in the first half of the year. As part of this corporate shake-up, several marquee awards shows, including the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and the CMT Music Awards, have been shelved while the company rethinks its event strategy.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the MTV Movie & TV Awards, a Nickelodeon spokesperson confirmed that the annual Kids’ Choice Awards in the U.S. will proceed as planned, with an official date to be announced soon. This indicates that while some events are being reconsidered, others remain a priority for the network.
In a companywide memo, 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.” The shows currently under review include the MTV Europe Music Awards, Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico, and the MTV MIAWs, which celebrate Latin American music and youth culture. Notably, Paramount’s flagship events, such as the Video Music Awards (VMAs) and the U.S. edition of the Kids’ Choice Awards, remain unaffected for now.
The decision to pause these awards shows comes amid aggressive cost-cutting measures at Paramount, which have reshaped the company over the past year. In August 2024, Paramount announced plans to reduce its U.S. workforce by 15% in an effort to save $500 million. This announcement was followed by significant financial losses, including a $5.98 billion write-down on the value of its cable TV networks. The first round of layoffs led to the closure of Paramount TV Studios and the departure of several high-profile executives, with further restructuring expected as the merger with Skydance progresses.
The MTV Movie & TV Awards, which began in 1992 as a celebration of blockbuster films and expanded 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. However, the 2021 broadcast, hosted by Leslie Jones, attracted only 1.3 million viewers. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, replaced by a special hosted by Vanessa Hudgens.
In contrast, the CMT Music Awards have remained a strong ratings performer, with the 2024 broadcast drawing 5.38 million viewers, slightly down from 5.43 million in 2023. This disparity in viewership raises questions about the future of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, especially as Paramount reassesses its awards show strategy.
While Paramount is not scrapping all of its awards franchises—such as the VMAs, which attracted over 4 million viewers last year—the uncertainty surrounding the future of the MTV Movie & TV Awards and other shows remains. As the company navigates its merger with Skydance and seeks to cut costs, it is unclear whether these awards shows will return in their previous form or if they will undergo significant changes. The industry is watching closely, as the fate of these beloved events hangs in the balance, reflecting broader trends and challenges within the entertainment landscape.
