Overview

• Early Nielsen data show the VMAs drew about 5.5 million viewers across CBS, MTV and Paramount+, up 42% year over year despite the Bills–Ravens game on NBC.
• The audience was the show’s largest since 2019 and marked CBS’s most-watched entertainment special since February’s Grammys.
• Paramount says the telecast was also the year’s third-largest live-streamed entertainment event on Paramount+, trailing the Grammys and the Golden Globes.
• Organizers reported record digital traction with roughly 1 billion global video views and more than 81 million engagements across official accounts, based on Sprinklr data.
• Telescope reported 2.5 billion fan votes during the campaign, and the broadcast featured LL Cool J as host with Lady Gaga winning artist of the year, Ariana Grande taking video of the year, and Sabrina Carpenter earning album of the year.