Get ready to be amazed! The MTV Video Music Awards have just experienced a MAJOR audience surge after making a game-changing switch to CBS!

For the first time ever, CBS aired the VMAs, and the results were staggering—a whopping 42% increase in viewers! This year’s ceremony, which also broadcast on MTV and streamed on Paramount+, attracted an impressive 5.5 million viewers, marking the highest ratings in six years.

In total, the 2024 VMAs, including pre-show and encore presentations, averaged 4.09 million viewers on MTV and 11 other Paramount cable channels. To put this in perspective, last year’s comparable numbers showed 3.91 million. With CBS’s extensive reach—available to a staggering 125 million households versus MTV’s more limited access—the demand for awards shows has clearly shifted!

Notably, the 2025 VMAs were CBS’s most-watched entertainment special since the Grammy Awards in early February, proving that audiences are hungry for engaging live music events.

But the VMAs weren’t without competition! Last night, an electrifying NFL game unfolded on NBC, with the Buffalo Bills triumphing over the Baltimore Ravens in an adrenaline-pumping finish, overcoming a 15-point deficit in just four minutes.

Star power shone bright at this year’s VMAs! Lady Gaga snagged the coveted Artist of the Year award, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each took home three trophies. Grande’s uplifting hit "Brighter Days Ahead" was crowned Video of the Year, and Carpenter’s album "Short n’ Sweet" earned Album of the Year.

Hosted by the ever-charismatic LL Cool J, who boasts a remarkable history with CBS and its affiliated networks, the night was full of excitement. LL Cool J is not just a household name from MTV; he’s also left his mark on CBS shows like 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and 'Lip Sync Battle' on Paramount Network.

With such a successful transition and a lineup of celebrated artists, the VMAs are back in the spotlight and poised for even greater heights!