Viacom is closing down the German TV music channel Viva after 25 years.

Starting January 2019, Comedy Central will expand to 24 hour programming on the channel. Comedy Central -- which is also owned by Viacom -- in Germany currently broadcasts 12 hours per day from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., while Viva broadcasts the rest of the time. 

For decades, Viva has been a springboard for German entertainers such as Stefan Raab, Heike Makatsch, Oliver Pocher, Sarah Kuttner, Minh-Khai, Tobias Schlegel and many more with broadcasts in Austria and Switzerland as well. 

Viacom's decision to shutter Viva comes as a disappointment to many in the German music business, with many expecting a "fan day" in 2019 for German music on MTV. 

As well, Viacom announced a new MTV Unplugged program with German stars such as Samy Deluxe, Udo Lindenberg and others.

Starting Oct. 1, Viva's programming will already be reduced: At 2 p.m. the channel will switch over to Comedy Central, being three hours earlier than before. It is not clear what will happen to the chart-show “Viva Top 100” that currently airs each Friday at 2 p.m.