TV Scores: VMAs Rise in Early Numbers

After a few comparatively lean years for on-air viewing, the MTV Video Music Awards bounced again some on Tuesday.

Ultimate same-day Nielsen rankings have the present drawing 913,000 viewers on MTV, a 29.5 p.c bounce from 705,000 for the 2022 VMAs (and likewise barely above the 900,000 who watched the 2021 awards on MTV. The VMAs additionally aired on a number of different Paramount World cable channels and TelevisaUnivision’s UniMas.

The VMAs confirmed even greater enchancment in MTV’s core demographics of adults 18-34 — greater than doubling final yr’s present — and adults 18-49, which was up by 77 p.c yr to yr. The present scored a 1.14 ranking among the many 18-34 demo in properties the place MTV is accessible (which quantity about 70 million), the very best for the present (once more, on MTV alone) since 2019), based mostly on early figures. Its 1.03 ranking for adults 18-49 is a three-year excessive. The VMAs gave MTV its greatest Tuesday evening in each demos in virtually a decade — since 2014. (Final yr’s awards aired on a Sunday.)

The MTV-only numbers characterize only a fraction of the present’s full viewers, because the VMAs aired on a dozen different channels along with MTV. The CW simulcast the VMAs in 2021 and 2022 however didn’t this yr, which may impression the ultimate same-day totals.

Taylor Swift received video of the yr for “Anti-Hero” on the awards, her second consecutive win within the class. The awards additionally featured an ‘NSync reunion and performances from Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Shakira and quite a few hip-hop icons celebrating the fiftieth yr of the style.

Sept. 13, 3:15 p.m. Up to date with closing same-day rankings for MTV.