Even without a performance, Britney Spears worked her magic for the “2008 MTV Video Music Awards.”
More than 8.4 million viewers tuned in to Sunday’s three-hour music event, a 19% increase over last year’s viewership (and 46% higher than the 2006 tally).
Spears’ heavily hyped kickoff to the 25th edition of the VMAs included no more than a taped bit with “Superbad” star Jonah Hill and a 30-second introduction, but the night gave the pop star the comeback she tried to achieve last year: Her clip for “Piece of Me” was awarded three moon men, the pop star’s first wins in VMA history, including the prize for Video of the Year.
According to Cable Fast National data, the show grew 15% among MTV’s core 12- to 34-year-old audience, ranking it as the No. 1 telecast in the demo year-to-date.
British comedian Russell Brand hosted the event.
