Britney Spears delivers ratings gold to MTV

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.

-- Denise Martin

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Lo]

Britney Spears has made the VMA's a hit in the first place. She is STILL the queen of pop, and I'm not even a die hard fan. Obviously, people turn in to see her, is it going to be a train wreck or do we get the old Britney back. I hear she is going to do a duet with Justin Timberlake.

[jeremy wallace]

You can say what you want about brit, but one thing is for sure the world cannot get enough of her. Her album sales speak for themselves. She will be back and it will be in a big way!

[julie ann]

I am a britney fan. She is the only reason I watch VMA.

[shawna sabino]

russel brand was awful and insulted america. to make fun of the jonas brother for morality was beyond reproach.

[Zierene]

From Philippines with love... Britney, i never stop believing on u when others had. now im rejoicing for u.i know one day u will be back on track. KEEP IT UP BABY BRIT.... everyone has a " piece of me" troubles and failures. what u had was really a great one, but you overcame it. mother lynne is true, u are her brave little girl.

[Sam]

Brittney Is a great singer and performer on the stage .
I vote for her for the vma , she deseved to win may her career continue to soar !!!!

[inthecity]

How do they credit Britney with the high ratings?

I watched to see how Russell Brand would do.

And after watching the show, and from what I have read I would credit the Jonas Brothers and the Twilight cast for some of these ratings. They seem to have fanatical fan bases.

[sha]

Even though I tuned in to the VMA's and actually watched the entire thing, it was the worst VMA's in history.

The sound was off, the performances were ok, and there were no can't miss moments. And even though we all love Britney - it looked like she was getting token awards.

I was quite disappointed - but I guess I should have dropped my expectations when I saw that Russel Brand was hosting.

[Krystal]

I'm sorry, but Britney Spears is a song writer and a performer. She puts on shows. All the drama with marrying her cousin after drinking 8 red bulls. Performance. Shaving her head and leaking a video of herself having a nervous breakdown. Performance. So, at the point in time that; all the soon-to-be-childless mothers out their find themselves in awe because a drama queen can put on a show, I find myself less than surprised.