MUMBAI: "The 2002 MTV Video Music Awards," telecast live from New York City's Radio City Music Hall on 29 August (not in India though), was the most watched in the show's history, averaging more than 11.9 million viewers in the US.

The highlight of the 19th edition of the VMAs was rapper Eminem walking away with four awards (as well as almost getting into a fistfight) and must have left all the show's many teen-oriented advertisers laughing all the way to the bank.

According to the Nielsen ratings, it had an 8.3 household rating and an 11.1 rating in the 12-34 demographic, up 5 per cent from last year.

The VMA show also out-delivered all broadcast networks in prime time, and is the highest-rated and most-watched basic-cable program for the year to date among households and 12 to 34-year-olds.