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Monday Final Ratings: Original Telecast of MTV Video Music Awards Sinks to 22-Year Low in Total Viewers

Fourth Consecutive Year of Linear TV Viewer Decline for the Ceremony

The 164-minute “2018 MTV Video Music Awards” drew a combined 5.23 million viewers across MTV and ten other Viacom cable networks — down 8 percent from last year (5.7 million), down 20 percent from two years ago (6.5 million), down 47 percent from three years ago (9.8 million) and half from what it was in 2014 (10.3 million). It’s the lowest viewer mark for an original telecast of a VMA ceremony since 1996 (5.07 million).

As a positive, the VMAs registered 141.6 million digital streams, according to internal numbers provided by MTV, making it the most streamed awards show in Viacom history. Social engagement for the VMAs was up 46 percent from last year, according to MTV data from measurement firm Delmondo.

What follows are the Live + Same Day rating results for the night’s broadcast network telecasts on Monday, August 20:

Bachelor in Paradise (ABC, 8:00 PM, 121 min.)
253 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 4.597 million viewers
• 3.1/6 HH
• 1.3/6 A18-49 (1.7/7 F18-49, 0.8/4 M18-49)
• 1.0/6 A18-34 (1.4/8 F18-34, 0.7/5 M18-34)
• 1.5/5 A25-54 (2.1/7 F25-54, 0.9/3 M25-54)
• Median age: 55.4

The Proposal (ABC, 10:01 PM, 59 min.)
253 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 2.278 million viewers
• 1.6/3 HH
• 0.5/2 A18-49 (0.7/3 F18-49, 0.3/2 M18-49)
• 0.4/2 A18-34 (0.5/3 F18-34, 0.3/2 M18-34)
• 0.6/2 A25-54 (0.8/3 F25-54, 0.4/1 M25-54)
• Median age: 58.6

Late Late Show with James Corden: Carpool Karaoke Paul McCartney (S) (CBS, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
256 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 4.282 million viewers
• 2.8/5 HH
• 0.6/3 A18-49 (0.7/3 F18-49, 0.5/3 M18-49)
• 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.4/2 F18-34, 0.3/2 M18-34)
• 0.9/3 A25-54 (1.1/4 F25-54, 0.8/3 M25-54)
• Median age: 61.3

Salvation (CBS, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
256 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 2.534 million viewers
• 1.7/3 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.3/1 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
• 0.1/1 A18-34 (0.1/1 F18-34, 0.1/1 M18-34)
• 0.5/2 A25-54 (0.6/2 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
• Median age: 62.0

Elementary (CBS, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
256 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 3.338 million viewers
• 2.3/5 HH
• 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.4/2 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
• 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
• 0.6/2 A25-54 (0.8/3 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
• Median age: 63.7

American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 8:00 PM, 120 min.)
244 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 5.005 million viewers
• 2.9/6 HH
• 1.0/4 A18-49 (1.2/5 F18-49, 0.9/4 M18-49)
• 0.4/3 A18-34 (0.5/3 F18-34, 0.4/2 M18-34)
• 1.5/5 A25-54 (1.7/6 F25-54, 1.2/5 M25-54)
• Median age: 56.6

America’s Got Talent (RP) (NBC, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
242 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 2.870 million viewers
• 1.8/4 HH
• 0.6/3 A18-49 (0.7/3 F18-49, 0.5/2 M18-49)
• 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.4/2 F18-34, 0.2/2 M18-34)
• 0.8/3 A25-54 (0.9/3 F25-54, 0.7/3 M25-54)
• Median age: 57.8

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8:00 PM, 120 min.)
256 affiliates; 89% coverage
• 2.393 million viewers
• 1.6/3 HH
• 0.5/2 A18-49 (0.7/3 F18-49, 0.4/2 M18-49)
• 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.4/2 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
• 0.7/2 A25-54 (0.9/3 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
• Median age: 56.9

Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
256 affiliates; 82% coverage
• 1.288 million viewers
• 0.8/1 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.2/1 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
• 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
• 0.4/1 A25-54 (0.3/1 F25-54, 0.4/2 M25-54)
• Median age: 56.6

Whose Line Is It Anyway? (CW, 9:00 PM, 30 min.)
256 affiliates; 82% coverage
• 1.044 million viewers
• 0.6/1 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.3/1 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
• 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.2/2 M18-34)
• 0.4/1 A25-54 (0.4/1 F25-54, 0.4/2 M25-54)
• Median age: 52.5

Whose Line Is It Anyway? (R) (CW, 9:30 PM, 30 min.)
256 affiliates; 82% coverage
• 1.031 million viewers
• 0.6/1 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.3/1 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
• 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.3/2 M18-34)
• 0.4/1 A25-54 (0.5/1 F25-54, 0.4/1 M25-54)
• Median age: 50.5

Criminal Minds (R) (ION, 6:00 PM, 60 min.)
80% coverage
• 0.941 million viewers
• 0.6/1 HH
• 0.2/2 A18-49 (0.3/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
• 0.2 A18-34 (0.2 F18-34, 0.1 M18-34)
• 0.3 A25-54 (0.4 F25-54, 0.2 M25-54)
• Median age: 54.4

Criminal Minds (R) (ION, 7:00 PM, 60 min.)
80% coverage
• 1.055 million viewers
• 0.7/1 HH
• 0.2/1 A18-49 (0.3/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
• 0.2 A18-34 (0.2 F18-34, 0.1 M18-34)
• 0.3 A25-54 (0.4 F25-54, 0.3 M25-54)
• Median age: 54.8

Criminal Minds (R) (ION, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
80% coverage
• 1.389 million viewers
• 0.9/2 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.4/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
• 0.2 A18-34 (0.3 F18-34, 0.2 M18-34)
• 0.4 A25-54 (0.5 F25-54, 0.4 M25-54)
• Median age: 55.8

Criminal Minds (R) (ION, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
80% coverage
• 1.381 million viewers
• 0.9/2 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.4/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
• 0.2 A18-34 (0.3 F18-34, 0.2 M18-34)
• 0.4 A25-54 (0.5 F25-54, 0.4 M25-54)
• Median age: 55.3

Criminal Minds (R) (ION, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
80% coverage
• 1.266 million viewers
• 0.8/2 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49 (0.4/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
• 0.2 A18-34 (0.2 F18-34, 0.1 M18-34)
• 0.4 A25-54 (0.5 F25-54, 0.3 M25-54)
• Median age: 56.1

La Rosa de Guadalupe (Univision, 7:00 PM, 60 min.)
69% coverage
• 1.660 million viewers
• 0.9/2 HH
• 0.5/3 A18-49
• Median age: 44.4

El Rico y Lazaro (Univision, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
69% coverage
• 1.495 million viewers
• 0.9/2 HH
• 0.4/2 A18-49
• Median age: 50.8

La Bella y Las Bestias (Univision, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
69% coverage
• 1.269 million viewers
• 0.8/1 HH
• 0.4/2 A18-49
• Median age: 47.8

La Piloto (Univision, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
69% coverage
• 0.958 million viewers
• 0.6/1 HH
• 0.3/1 A18-49
• Median age: 47.5

Reto 4 Elementos: Naturaleza Extrema (UniMás, 7:00 PM, 150 min.)
51% coverage
• 0.364 million viewers
• 0.2/0 HH
• 0.1/1 A18-49
• Median age: 38.0

La Jefa del Campeon (UniMás, 9:30 PM, 60 min.)
51% coverage
• 0.293 million viewers
• 0.1/0 HH
• 0.1/0 A18-49
• Median age: 37.0

¡Ay Güey! (UniMás, 10:30 PM, 60 min.)
51% coverage
• 0.132 million viewers
• 0.1/0 HH
• 0.0/0 A18-49
• Median age: 43.6

Exatlón Estados Unidos (Telemundo, 7:00 PM, 120 min.)
55% coverage
• 1.101 million viewers
• 0.6/1 HH
• 0.4/2 A18-49
• 0.3/2 A18-34
• Median age: 41.5

Sin Senos Si Hay Paraiso (Telemundo, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
55% coverage
• 1.408 million viewers
• 0.8/2 HH
• 0.6/2 A18-49
• 0.5/3 A18-34
• Median age: 39.9

El Señor de Los Cielos VI (Telemundo, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
55% coverage
• 1.774 million viewers
• 0.9/2 HH
• 0.7/3 A18-49
• 0.6/4 A18-34
• Median age: 39.4

What follows are the Live + Same Day rating results for the night’s select cable telecasts on Monday, August 20 (with the night’s cable ranks according to total viewers and adults 18-49 in parentheses):

Dragon Ball Super (repeat) (ADSM, 8:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.363 million viewers (#88)
• 0.25 HH (#85)
• 0.14 A18-49 (#76)
• 0.13 A18-34 (#54)
• 0.12 A25-54 (#95)

American Dad (repeat) (ADSM, 8:30 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.425 million viewers (#83)
• 0.30 HH (#73)
• 0.18 A18-49 (#56)
• 0.20 A18-34 (#34)
• 0.16 A25-54 (#76)

The Cleveland Show (repeat) (ADSM, 9:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.580 million viewers (#64)
• 0.39 HH (#59)
• 0.27 A18-49 (#31)
• 0.28 A18-34 (#20)
• 0.25 A25-54 (#47)

American Dad (repeat) (ADSM, 9:30 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.827 million viewers (#44)
• 0.52 HH (#42)
• 0.38 A18-49 (#18)
• 0.35 A18-34 (#15)
• 0.38 A25-54 (#28)

Bob’s Burgers (repeat) (ADSM, 10:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.967 million viewers (#37)
• 0.59 HH (#37)
• 0.47 A18-49 (#12)
• 0.49 A18-34 (#10)
• 0.45 A25-54 (#15)

Bob’s Burgers (repeat) (ADSM, 10:30 PM, 30 min.)
• 1.016 million viewers (#35)
• 0.62 HH (#34)
• 0.48 A18-49 (#10)
• 0.54 A18-34 (#8)
• 0.45 A25-54 (#15)

Better Call Saul (AMC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.508 million viewers (#18)
• 0.94 HH (#19)
• 0.43 A18-49 (#15)
• 0.29 A18-34 (#19)
• 0.54 A25-54 (#10)

Lodge 49 (AMC, 10:00 PM, 64 min.)
• 0.451 million viewers (#78)
• 0.32 HH (#72)
• 0.11 A18-49 (#98)
• 0.06 A18-34 (#97)
• 0.15 A25-54 (#81)

2018 MTV Video Music Awards (BET, 9:00 PM, 164 min.)
• 0.369 million viewers (#86)
• 0.24 HH (#86)
• 0.13 A18-49 (#84)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.14 A25-54 (#88)

Real Housewives of Orange County (BRAVO, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.421 million viewers (#19)
• 1.04 HH (#17)
• 0.48 A18-49 (#10)
• 0.23 A18-34 (#28)
• 0.63 A25-54 (#8)

Southern Charm Savannah (BRAVO, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 0.573 million viewers (#66)
• 0.43 HH (#54)
• 0.16 A18-49 (#60)
• 0.09 A18-34 (#82)
• 0.24 A25-54 (#49)

2018 MTV Video Music Awards (CMDY, 9:00 PM, 164 min.)
• 0.332 million viewers (#91)
• 0.20 HH (#90)
• 0.16 A18-49 (#60)
• 0.14 A18-34 (#48)
• 0.16 A25-54 (#76)

Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.166 million viewers (#23)
• 0.83 HH (#21)
• 0.21 A18-49 (#49)
• 0.07 A18-34 (#92)
• 0.30 A25-54 (#40)

Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.165 million viewers (#24)
• 0.82 HH (#22)
• 0.21 A18-49 (#49)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.30 A25-54 (#40)

CNN Tonight (CNN, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.163 million viewers (#26)
• 0.81 HH (#23)
• 0.23 A18-49 (#42)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.32 A25-54 (#33)

Street Outlaws (DISC, 9:00 PM, 62 min.)
• 1.704 million viewers (#15)
• 1.09 HH (#16)
• 0.60 A18-49 (#7)
• 0.45 A18-34 (#12)
• 0.74 A25-54 (#7)

Diesel Brothers (DISC, 10:02 PM, 61 min.)
• 1.116 million viewers (#28)
• 0.71 HH (#29)
• 0.46 A18-49 (#13)
• 0.34 A18-34 (#16)
• 0.55 A25-54 (#9)

NFL Pre-Season Football Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts (ESPN, 8:00 PM, 204 min.)
• 2.656 million viewers (#7)
• 1.67 HH (#7)
• 0.81 A18-49 (#6)
• 0.62 A18-34 (#6)
• 1.01 A25-54 (#6)

Little League World Series Elimination Game: Mexico vs. Canada (ESPN2, 6:00 PM, 126 min.)
• 0.700 million viewers (#54)
• 0.48 HH (#48)
• 0.14 A18-49 (#76)
• 0.09 A18-34 (#82)
• 0.17 A25-54 (#71)

Little League World Series Elimination Game: Texas vs. Georgia (ESPN2, 8:06 PM, 179 min.)
• 1.269 million viewers (#20)
• 0.80 HH (#25)
• 0.24 A18-49 (#38)
• 0.16 A18-34 (#43)
• 0.31 A25-54 (#36)

Kids Baking Championship (FOOD, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.212 million viewers (#22)
• 0.77 HH (#26)
• 0.26 A18-49 (#34)
• 0.21 A18-34 (#33)
• 0.37 A25-54 (#29)

Reality Cupcakes (FOOD, 10:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.645 million viewers (#57)
• 0.41 HH (#58)
• 0.15 A18-49 (#66)
• 0.12 A18-34 (#57)
• 0.19 A25-54 (#65)

Reality Cupcakes (FOOD, 10:30 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.540 million viewers (#68)
• 0.33 HH (#71)
• 0.14 A18-49 (#76)
• 0.11 A18-34 (#66)
• 0.18 A25-54 (#69)

Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 2.811 million viewers (#6)
• 1.85 HH (#5)
• 0.22 A18-49 (#47)
• 0.12 A18-34 (#57)
• 0.40 A25-54 (#24)

Hannity (FOXNC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 3.237 million viewers (#2)
• 2.14 HH (#1)
• 0.30 A18-49 (#24)
• 0.15 A18-34 (#46)
• 0.53 A25-54 (#12)

The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 2.416 million viewers (#8)
• 1.62 HH (#8)
• 0.23 A18-49 (#42)
• 0.10 A18-34 (#73)
• 0.39 A25-54 (#26)

Love It or List It (HGTV, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.649 million viewers (#16)
• 1.11 HH (#15)
• 0.34 A18-49 (#20)
• 0.19 A18-34 (#35)
• 0.43 A25-54 (#20)

House Hunters Family (HGTV, 10:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 1.715 million viewers (#14)
• 1.18 HH (#14)
• 0.29 A18-49 (#27)
• 0.18 A18-34 (#36)
• 0.41 A25-54 (#23)

House Hunters International (HGTV, 10:30 PM, 30 min.)
• 1.799 million viewers (#13)
• 1.24 HH (#12)
• 0.27 A18-49 (#31)
• 0.14 A18-34 (#48)
• 0.37 A25-54 (#29)

American Pickers (HIST, 9:00 PM, 63 min.)
• 1.594 million viewers (#17)
• 0.99 HH (#18)
• 0.28 A18-49 (#29)
• 0.12 A18-34 (#57)
• 0.44 A25-54 (#17)

Evil Lives Here (ID, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.165 million viewers (#24)
• 0.81 HH (#23)
• 0.30 A18-49 (#24)
• 0.14 A18-34 (#48)
• 0.42 A25-54 (#22)

Pamela Smart: An American Murder Mystery (ID, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.041 million viewers (#33)
• 0.73 HH (#28)
• 0.28 A18-49 (#29)
• 0.12 A18-34 (#57)
• 0.40 A25-54 (#24)

Live PD: Women on Patrol (LIF, 9:00 PM, 30 min.)
• 0.637 million viewers (#59)
• 0.39 HH (#59)
• 0.15 A18-49 (#66)
• 0.07 A18-34 (#92)
• 0.22 A25-54 (#56)

Live PD: Women on Patrol (LIF, 9:30 PM, 33 min.)
• 0.645 million viewers (#57)
• 0.39 HH (#59)
• 0.15 A18-49 (#66)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.22 A25-54 (#56)

Escaping Polygamy (LIF, 10:03 PM, 60 min.)
• 0.577 million viewers (#65)
• 0.37 HH (#64)
• 0.16 A18-49 (#60)
• 0.10 A18-34 (#73)
• 0.22 A25-54 (#56)

All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.858 million viewers (#12)
• 1.32 HH (#11)
• 0.18 A18-49 (#56)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.26 A25-54 (#46)

Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 2.851 million viewers (#5)
• 1.97 HH (#2)
• 0.30 A18-49 (#24)
• 0.17 A18-34 (#39)
• 0.47 A25-54 (#14)

Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 2.240 million viewers (#10)
• 1.57 HH (#9)
• 0.19 A18-49 (#52)
• 0.08 A18-34 (#85)
• 0.31 A25-54 (#36)

2018 VMA Preshow (MTV, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.148 million viewers (#27)
• 0.70 HH (#31)
• 0.54 A18-49 (#8)
• 0.59 A18-34 (#7)
• 0.51 A25-54 (#13)

2018 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV, 9:00 PM, 164 min.)
• 2.250 million viewers (#9)
• 1.22 HH (#13)
• 1.08 A18-49 (#2)
• 1.17 A18-34 (#1)
• 1.02 A25-54 (#4)

2018 MTV Video Music Awards (PAR, 9:00 PM, 164 min.)
• 0.391 million viewers (#85)
• 0.23 HH (#88)
• 0.13 A18-49 (#84)
• 0.11 A18-34 (#66)
• 0.15 A25-54 (#81)

Counting On (TLC, 9:00 PM, 62 min.)
• 1.213 million viewers (#21)
• 0.90 HH (#20)
• 0.24 A18-49 (#38)
• 0.16 A18-34 (#43)
• 0.32 A25-54 (#33)

Little Life on the Prairie (TLC, 10:02 PM, 62 min.)
• 0.709 million viewers (#52)
• 0.49 HH (#46)
• 0.14 A18-49 (#76)
• 0.07 A18-34 (#92)
• 0.21 A25-54 (#59)

Ghost Adventures Repack (TRAV, 9:00 PM, 120 min.)
• 0.446 million viewers (#80)
• 0.27 HH (#77)
• 0.17 A18-49 (#58)
• 0.12 A18-34 (#57)
• 0.20 A25-54 (#63)

WWE Raw (USA, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 3.110 million viewers (#3)
• 1.86 HH (#4)
• 1.04 A18-49 (#4)
• 0.73 A18-34 (#5)
• 1.23 A25-54 (#2)

WWE Raw (USA, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 3.241 million viewers (#1)
• 1.92 HH (#3)
• 1.09 A18-49 (#1)
• 0.81 A18-34 (#3)
• 1.27 A25-54 (#1)

WWE Raw (USA, 10:00 PM, 64 min.)
• 2.936 million viewers (#4)
• 1.78 HH (#6)
• 1.05 A18-49 (#3)
• 0.79 A18-34 (#4)
• 1.19 A25-54 (#3)

Love & Hip Hop Hollywood 5 (VH1, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
• 1.954 million viewers (#11)
• 1.35 HH (#10)
• 0.99 A18-49 (#5)
• 0.95 A18-34 (#2)
• 1.02 A25-54 (#4)

2018 MTV Video Music Awards (VH1, 9:00 PM, 164 min.)
• 1.091 million viewers (#30)
• 0.70 HH (#31)
• 0.54 A18-49 (#8)
• 0.54 A18-34 (#8)
• 0.54 A25-54 (#10)

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research