By Anya Sharma | LOS ANGELES – 2025/09/09 09:18:19

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), hosted by LL Cool J and featuring performances by artists such as Doja cat, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and Sabrina Carpenter, achieved a six-year viewership high after being simulcast on CBS [[2]].

According to Nielsen Live+SD Fast National Data, the awards show garnered over 5.5 million viewers and was simulcast on MTV and streamed on paramount+. This represents a 42% increase from the previous year, which drew over 4 million viewers across 13 networks, including MTV and other Paramount channels [[2]], [[3]].

The broadcast was the number one entertainment program of the night, surpassing Sunday Night Football between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills in viewership.

The VMAs also became the moast-watched entertainment special on CBS since the grammy Awards on February 2nd. On Paramount+,the VMAs ranked as the third-largest live-streamed entertainment program,following the Grammys and Golden globe Awards.

Other achievements for the 2025 VMAs include a record-breaking 2.5 billion global votes, a 121% increase from the previous year. Social media engagement also saw gains, with over a billion global video views, up 21% from the year before. The show was also the top trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) both nationally and globally.

Performances from artists such as Busta Rhymes, Tate mcrae, and the international girl group KATSEYE, in addition to the move to CBS, contributed to the VMAs’ success. Sabrina Carpenter, who recently released her album Man’s Best Friend, performed a tribute to britney Spears and advocated for trans rights, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants as backup dancers.

Key Performances and Moments

The 2025 VMAs were filled with memorable performances and moments that contributed to its high viewership.

“Lady Gaga helped bring monster ratings to the 2025 VMAs on Sunday.”

Behind the Numbers: Understanding Viewership Metrics

Understanding television viewership involves several key metrics. Ratings represent the percentage of all households with televisions that are watching a particular program, while viewership refers to the total number of people watching a program [[1]], [[2]]. These metrics are crucial for advertisers and networks to gauge the success of a program and make informed decisions about future programming.