![2017 MTV Video Music Awards Audience Tumbles to New Low](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2017/08/2017-mtv-vmas-viewership-down.jpg?w=980&q=75)
2017 MTV Video Music Awards Audience Tumbles to New Low
Neither 2017 MTV Video Music Awards host Katy Perry's high-flying astronaut stunt nor her "Swish Swish" performance's floating gimmick could keep the show's viewership from sinking — the annual broadcast reached a new low.
According to Billboard, the VMAs — broadcast across 10 networks — drew 5.68 million viewers in 2017, nearly half of what it managed just two years ago. The 2016 show nabbed 6.5 million viewers while the 2015 broadcast drew 9.8 million.
By comparison, the 2002 show, which was only broadcast on MTV, managed to drum up 11.9 million viewers.
The VMAs had the unenviable task of competing against the massive Game of Thrones, which drew 12.07 million live viewers. Still, MTV beat Thrones when it came to teenage viewers.
10 Surprising MTV VMAs Facts You Didn't Know:
2017 MTV VMAs: See the Red Carpet Looks
More From Majic 93.3
![25 Songs Artists Regret Recording](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/01/songs-artists-regret.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Celebrities Who Had Babies in 2020](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2020/10/celeb-babies-born-2020.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Everything You Need to Know About the 2020 MTV VMAs: How to Watch, Who’s Performing + More](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2020/08/ariana-grande-lady-gaga-e1596805890611.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Katy Perry Defends Ellen DeGeneres Amid Toxic Workplace Allegations](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2020/08/katyellen.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lil Nas X Earns ‘First Award Ever’ With Song of the Year Win at 2019 MTV VMAs](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/08/lil-nas-x.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Missy Elliott Reunites With ‘Work It’ Dancer Alyson Stoner During MTV VMAs Video Vanguard Award Performance](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/08/GettyImages-11704079971-e1566869794602.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lizzo Slayed Her MTV VMAs Performance and Twitter Couldn’t Get Enough (And Neither Could Queen Latifah!)](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/08/GettyImages-1170406685-e1566869299224.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![17 Times Artists Savagely Called Out Other Musicians](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/03/kanye-west-taylor-swift-vmas.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![25 Craziest and Cringe-Worthy 2019 Grammy Awards Fashion Looks (PHOTOS)](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2019/02/tierra-whack-grammys-2019-red-carpet-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)