Archive notice: The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards already aired on Sunday, September 7, 2025. This guide preserves the U.S. viewing options that were available for the live broadcast. If you are looking for the replay now, CBS and Paramount+ list the ceremony on demand, but access, pricing and regional availability may have changed.
When it aired, the three-hour ceremony began at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific on CBS and MTV. The official U.S. live stream was Paramount+ Premium. The genuinely free route to the main show was a local CBS affiliate received with an antenna; free trials were available only to eligible subscribers and required cancellation to avoid renewal.
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2025 MTV VMAs: the essential viewing details
| Detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 7, 2025 |
| Red-carpet pre-show | 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific |
| Main ceremony | 8–11 p.m. Eastern / 5–8 p.m. Pacific |
| Venue | UBS Arena, Elmont, New York |
| Host | LL COOL J |
| Main U.S. broadcast | CBS |
| Simulcast | MTV |
| Live U.S. stream | Paramount+ Premium |
The 2025 ceremony was notable because CBS carried the VMAs for the first time, while MTV aired a simultaneous broadcast. That means viewers did not need MTV specifically if they could receive their local CBS station. The official announcement confirmed the CBS broadcast, MTV simulcast and U.S. Paramount+ stream.
Read the CBS and Paramount announcement.
Where to watch the 2025 VMAs replay
For viewers reading this after the live event, start with the official listings:
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- CBS VMAs show page
- CBS episode page, which lists the September 7, 2025 episode and its streaming status
- Paramount+ VMAs page
Replay access may require a subscription, may differ between CBS and Paramount+, and may be restricted by country or platform. Do not assume that the plan that offered live access in 2025 has the same name or price today.
Watch with cable, satellite or a traditional TV package
On September 7, 2025, the main ceremony was available through either of two networks:
- CBS: CBS is a broadcast network. Cable or satellite customers could tune to their local CBS affiliate if it was included in their package.
- MTV: MTV is the cable-network simulcast. Customers with MTV in their channel package could watch the same main ceremony there.
The distinction matters: CBS was not a cable channel, and MTV was not the only way to watch the main show. A local CBS station received over the air, through a pay-TV package or through a live-TV streaming service was enough for the ceremony.
The pre-show was distributed differently
The one-hour pre-show began at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific. The official network announcement listed it on MTV, BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1. It was not announced as a CBS broadcast.
MTV also carried the official 2025 Video Music Awards Live Red Carpet Pre-Show on YouTube, hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney, with a KATSEYE performance. That stream was a legitimate free pre-show option, but it was not a confirmed free stream of the complete ceremony.
Stream the main ceremony with Paramount+
Paramount+ Premium was the simplest direct streaming option for the live U.S. broadcast. The crucial detail was the plan tier:
- Paramount+ Premium: Included the live stream as the CBS broadcast aired.
- Paramount+ Essential: Did not provide the live event. According to the official viewing guide, the full ceremony became available on demand beginning the following day.
In other words, an account or subscription described merely as “Paramount+” was not enough to guarantee live access. Viewers needed the Premium plan for the September 7 broadcast.
The service supported viewing through a web browser, phones, tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, compatible smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation and other listed devices. Device support and plan availability can change, so check the official Paramount+ viewing guide for current information.
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- Create or sign in to a U.S. Paramount+ account.
- Select Paramount+ Premium, not Essential.
- Open the Paramount+ website or app shortly before 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific.
- Search for “MTV Video Music Awards” or look under the live-TV or event listing rather than only the on-demand show page.
- If you used a trial, record the renewal date and cancel through the same billing platform if you no longer wanted the service.
Watch through a live-TV streaming service
Contemporaneous coverage listed DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and YouTube TV as possible live-TV alternatives. CBS News also listed Sling as an MTV option. These services are not interchangeable, and channel availability is often market-specific.
Before subscribing, enter your ZIP code and check the actual lineup. A service may carry CBS in some markets but not the local CBS affiliate in yours. YouTube TV, for example, directs customers to verify local network availability by ZIP code in its local-channel support information.
| Service or route | What to verify | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ Premium | That the account is on Premium and in the United States | The simplest direct live stream |
| Philo | That the package includes MTV; Philo does not provide the local-CBS broadcast route | A straightforward MTV-based option |
| Fubo | Local CBS and/or MTV availability in the ZIP code | A live-TV replacement with sports and general TV channels |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Local CBS and MTV in the selected package and market | Broad live-channel access |
| Hulu + Live TV | Local CBS and MTV availability | The ceremony alongside a large general-TV bundle |
| YouTube TV | That the local CBS affiliate is included; recording rules may apply | The CBS route with a DVR |
| Sling | The specific pass and add-ons that include MTV | A flexible option for viewers who check the lineup carefully |
For the main ceremony, CBS was sufficient. MTV was particularly useful for the pre-show and for viewers whose existing package already included the channel. If a service did not offer CBS in your market, it needed to offer MTV or you needed to use Paramount+ Premium instead.
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The Sling $4.99 warning
Sling’s $4.99 Day Pass was a real promotion in August and September 2025, but it was not a reliable blanket recommendation for the VMAs. Sling described the Day Pass around the Sling Orange lineup, while MTV was listed through Entertainment Extra rather than as a universal Day Pass channel.
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How to watch the VMAs for free
“Free” referred to three different situations in 2025. Only one provided the complete main ceremony without a subscription: receiving local CBS with an antenna.
1. Genuinely free: use an antenna for local CBS
A compatible antenna could receive the local CBS affiliate without a monthly cable or streaming bill. Reception depended on distance from the transmitter, terrain, building materials, antenna placement and local signal conditions.
- Open the FCC DTV reception map and search for the home address.
- Identify the local CBS affiliate and check its predicted reception strength.
- Choose an indoor, attic or outdoor antenna appropriate for the reception conditions.
- Connect the antenna to the television’s antenna or RF input.
- Run the television’s automatic channel scan.
- Confirm that the CBS station is receivable before the scheduled broadcast.
- Tune to CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific for the main ceremony.
This route supplied the CBS main show, but it did not necessarily supply the MTV-branded red-carpet pre-show. For the complete pre-show-and-ceremony experience, combine the antenna with MTV, an eligible live-TV service or the official YouTube pre-show.
If the antenna signal is weak
- Rescan the television’s channels.
- Move an indoor antenna near a window or to a higher position.
- Remove unnecessary splitters and avoid placing the antenna behind large metal objects.
- Try an attic or outdoor antenna if the FCC map suggests indoor reception may be unreliable.
- Keep Paramount+ Premium or a live-TV service as a backup if the CBS signal is inconsistent.
The FCC also provides consumer guidance on antenna placement and reception.
2. Free trials: free only during an eligible offer
Several services advertised trials or promotions around September 7, 2025. These were not permanent free services and were subject to eligibility, payment-method and renewal rules.
| Service | Reported offer at the time | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ Premium | Seven-day trial | Needed the Premium tier for live viewing |
| Philo | Seven-day trial | Needed an MTV-inclusive package |
| Fubo | Five- or seven-day trial, depending on the offer or report | Local CBS and/or MTV availability varied |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Five-day trial | Package and local-channel availability applied |
| Hulu + Live TV | Three-day trial | Required CBS and MTV availability in the market |
These offers were reported on September 7, 2025 and should not be treated as current pricing or current promotions. Historical coverage also reported Paramount+ Premium at $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year at that time. Prices, plan names and trial policies can change.
Before using a trial:
- Confirm that the offer includes CBS or MTV, not merely a lower tier without the required channel or live feature.
- Check the exact end date and renewal price.
- Set a cancellation reminder as soon as you subscribe.
- Cancel through the same platform used for billing—for example, the provider’s website, Apple or Google Play.
- Check whether cancellation ends access immediately or at the end of the trial period.
A free trial normally requires a payment method and may automatically renew. It is more accurate to call this “watching at no charge during an eligible trial” than to call it a permanently free broadcast.
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3. Free online pre-show only
The official MTV YouTube stream was the safest free online option for the red carpet and pre-show. Search MTV’s verified channel for “2025 Video Music Awards LIVE Red Carpet Pre-Show”.
That stream should not be confused with a free full-ceremony stream. There was no confirmed official free YouTube broadcast of the complete main event. Do not rely on unofficial uploads, pop-up streams or sites promising the full ceremony without a legitimate broadcaster.
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Which viewing option was best?
| Your situation | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You wanted a truly free complete ceremony | Local CBS with an antenna | No subscription, provided the station was receivable |
| You wanted the simplest online stream | Paramount+ Premium | Official direct live stream in the U.S. |
| You already had cable or satellite | CBS or MTV | No additional account was necessary |
| You wanted the red carpet and ceremony | MTV or a confirmed MTV package, or official YouTube pre-show plus CBS or Paramount+ Premium | The pre-show and main ceremony had different distribution details |
| You wanted the lowest short-term cost without cable | An eligible Paramount+ or live-TV trial | Potentially no initial charge, but cancellation was required |
| You wanted DVR recording | YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV or DIRECTV STREAM, subject to lineup and recording rules | Live-TV services generally provide recording features |
Before signing up: four checks that prevent most problems
- Check your ZIP code. Verify the local CBS affiliate and the MTV package before starting a trial or subscription.
- Choose the correct Paramount+ plan. Premium was the live tier; Essential was the next-day on-demand option.
- Confirm the pre-show channel. Receiving CBS alone solved the main-show problem but did not guarantee access to the red carpet.
- Read the cancellation terms. Trials generally required a payment method and could renew automatically.
If the normal stream fails
Paramount+ does not show the live event
- Confirm that the account is subscribed to Premium rather than Essential.
- Sign out and sign back in.
- Update or restart the app.
- Try the web player or another supported device.
- Look under the live-TV or event listing, not only the on-demand page.
- Confirm that the account is being used in the United States and that the service’s location detection is not seeing a conflicting IP address or location.
- Use the local CBS antenna route or a verified CBS/MTV live-TV service as a backup.
Your live-TV service is missing CBS
Do not assume that a national CBS listing guarantees your local affiliate. Recheck the ZIP-code lineup. If CBS is unavailable, use Paramount+ Premium or a service that carries MTV. If you only need the ceremony and can receive the signal, an antenna may be faster than changing streaming packages.
Sling does not show MTV
Check the Day Pass, base package and Entertainment Extra selection. The $4.99 Sling Orange Day Pass did not automatically guarantee MTV access, so a reader may need a different package or add-on.
The antenna cannot find CBS
Run another channel scan, reposition the antenna, remove obstructions and check the FCC reception map. If the predicted signal is weak, an attic or outdoor antenna may be necessary. A live-TV service or Paramount+ Premium was the practical fallback for the main ceremony.
U.S. viewing information does not automatically apply overseas
The instructions above were specifically for viewers in the United States. Paramount+ Premium’s live-stream announcement referred to U.S. streaming, and international rights differed. UK viewers had separate MTV, Paramount+ and Pluto TV information; Australia had country-specific television and streaming arrangements. Check the local broadcaster or country-specific Paramount+/MTV listing rather than assuming that CBS, MTV or a U.S. Paramount+ plan works abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still watch the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards?
The live broadcast ended on September 7, 2025. CBS and Paramount+ list the 2025 ceremony on demand, but current access, subscription requirements and regional availability can change. Check the official CBS VMAs page and Paramount+ VMAs page.
Was Paramount+ Essential enough to watch the VMAs live?
No. For the 2025 U.S. broadcast, Paramount+ Premium was the live-streaming tier. Paramount+ Essential received the ceremony on demand beginning the following day.
Could I watch the full 2025 VMAs for free without cable?
Yes, if your local CBS affiliate was receivable with an antenna. Free trials were another temporary option, but they required eligibility, usually a payment method, and cancellation before renewal. The official free YouTube stream covered the pre-show, not a confirmed complete ceremony.
Did CBS and MTV show the same main ceremony?
Yes. CBS carried the main broadcast and MTV simulcast it. CBS was the broadcast-network route; MTV was the cable-network route. The pre-show had separate distribution and was not announced as a CBS broadcast.
Did the $4.99 Sling Day Pass include MTV?
Not automatically. The Day Pass was associated with Sling Orange, while Sling listed MTV through Entertainment Extra. Viewers needed to verify the exact pass and add-ons rather than assuming the $4.99 option included MTV.
Could viewers outside the United States use these instructions?
Not reliably. The Paramount+ live-stream announcement was U.S.-specific, and international rights differed. Viewers abroad should check their local MTV, Paramount+ or other authorized broadcaster listing.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The 2025 VMAs are no longer live. For the original U.S. broadcast, CBS or MTV carried the ceremony, Paramount+ Premium streamed it live, and a receivable local CBS station with an antenna was the genuinely free full-show option. Paramount+ Essential was on demand the next day, free trials were temporary and automatically renewable, and the official YouTube stream covered only the pre-show.
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