Top 10 TV Channels Most Likely to Close Down by 2030
Welcome! With 2021 concluding, there are only eight years left before the start of 2030. But with streaming services, OTT, and ATSC 3.0 becoming mainstream, it's no surprise that these channels would likely just give up by the time 2030 rolls around. So here are the networks that would likely die out by 2030. Let's go!Taking the gold spot, or should I say, gold spot of despair, we have Scripps-owned Ion. Ion has been pretty low-rated ever since it launched in 1998 as the Pax Network. Even then, in 2005, it became a syndication service relying on 14-hour repeats of NCIS and Law and Order.
Honestly, since Scripps is keeping the network in status quo (keeping the 14-hour marathons) and has shattered the one thing keeping the network alive (Qubo), it would be no surprise if Ion just disappears from the airwaves by 2030 as the Ion stations become independent stations. It is also worth noting that Ion Plus, which has disappeared from the airwaves, has become an OTT channel.
Yep, you all saw this one coming. Disney Channel, with it closing down over 100 different TV channels in favor of Disney+, could really see DC closing down by 2030 if not before that. Fun fact: 2030 is Disney Channel's 50th anniversary. So they better not close down in that year because that just wouldn't make any sense.
But anyhow, Disney+ is the one to blame for Disney Channel's closure. But hey, at least Disney will be doing an extravagant goodbye to the 50 years of programming they've aired, right?
As of 2022, Disney Channel is losing viewers on TV. Disney+ is taking over the streaming competition against Netflix, Paramount+, and Peacock.
Taking the third spot, we pretty much have the cheap direct-to-video sequel to Ion. Just like Ion, this channel seemingly overly relies on 10-hour marathons of cheap mystery shows canceled by the big four.
Also, look at the name: Court TV. While Court TV and Newsy are thriving by having an OTT service, Mystery would likely cease broadcasting or even be forgotten by 2030.
Universal Kids is by far the worst children's television channel of them all. The final nail in the coffin will be the arrival of Peacock. It looks like NBC is returning to the drawing board from the 1980s with children's programming.
Next up on the chopping block, we have Universal Kids. You might know this network as Sprout. But despite the many childhoods this network has made, it is surprisingly the lowest-rated children's network of them all (yep, lower than Nicktoons, Discovery Family, and even Qubo, which has closed down).
All of this, and the launch of Peacock, would really be the final nail in the coffin for Universal Kids. If NBC decides to return to children's programming, they would likely side with WildBrain or Nelvana over Universal Kids.
Yet another syndication service. Unlike Ion, MyNetworkTV only airs two hours a night, skipping Saturday. While most affiliates of the channel air it from 8 to 10 PM (usually these are the ones combined with other subchannels), some, including the O&O stations (which is ironic), air MNTV programming as late as 3 AM.
Another reason why I would see this channel bite the dust is the fact that despite being owned by Fox, this channel barely shows any Fox programming. Just CBS reruns. So why couldn't ViacomCBS buy this channel?
For a channel that is pretty much YouTube in TV form, I wouldn't be surprised if this channel bites the dust as well. It is very similar to Ion, where the only thing that was really keeping the network interesting and, in turn, alive was their children's block, Kidsclick. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Sinclair decides to pull the plug on this one as well.
Considering the fact that from their demographics, 16 and 17-year-olds are busy watching Nick/Disney while 18-34s are busy working and watching something other than YouTube in TV form, also, what kind of 16-year-old would be interested in Fear Factor?
Disney XD is nothing but reruns. Every time the programs are rerun again and again, it makes viewers bored and prone to program fatigue. Also, this channel is home to Marvel heroes. I may be a Disney fan, but sorry, DXD is a goner. There are no original series left.
XD? What do you mean "XD"? There is nothing to laugh about with this network closing down. Disney, are you insane? Sorry about that. But Disney XD is pretty much the MyNetworkTV of basic cable. Nothing but reruns. All day and all night. Being owned by Disney and all, Disney XD could close far earlier than 2030 if you think about it.
Hey, MyNetworkTV and DXD have something in common: rerun farms that are the rotting corpses of the networks that preceded them.
Before you say it, Ion Plus is actually still a thing. Except unlike Ion, Ion Plus can only be viewed via smart TV. Ion Plus is basically a poor man's Ion, which is really saying a lot considering the fact that Ion Plus is 12 hours of one show followed by 12 hours of infomercials. It's actually really pathetic if you think about it.
Ion Plus is nonsense. This can only be viewed on smart TV, but it has very poor infomercials. So pathetic.
From 2010 to this year, Discovery Family (formerly known as Hub Network) was our home for MLP. I don't know if it is safe or not, but it is unlikely. All children's channels are struggling for viewership since the dawn of the streaming era in 2020.
DF is gone for good. I don't know if Hasbro has their own TV channel or a streaming service. I'd gladly join in. Discovery Family has to go.
EDIT: As of April 2022, Discovery Family is officially related to Cartoon Network with no changes to the schedule as of 2023. Honestly, I'm surprised DF hasn't pulled a Disney XD yet since Cartoon Network could air the animated shows while DF could air the live-action content instead of ACME Night spamming us with live-action movies.
Now you might be asking, "What is this?" I'm not referring to the Canadian channel or the 1977 channel now known as Freeform. I'm referring to one owned by Luken Communications. Even I don't exactly know what this channel is. But from the schedules I could find, it's a network that airs mostly religious content and public domain content.
Okay, maybe with the religious programming, it could live an extra year or two. But with the public domain, as the name implies, you can easily see this programming freely on the internet as it has no copyright.