Van Toffler Returns to Produce Multi-Year VMAs Expansion on CBS, MTV

Van Toffler, a key figure in MTV's rise and former head of the network, is returning to produce the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) through his studio Gunpowder & Sky, which has signed a multi-year deal with MTV and CBS. The VMAs will be expanded from a single-night event into a week-long, multiplatform celebration of music and music videos, with MTV airing 24/7 music videos on MTV2, MTV Classic, and MTV Live in the lead-up to the main show. For the first time, the VMAs will be simulcast on CBS alongside MTV and streamed on Paramount+, marking CBS's debut in broadcasting the event. Past VMA winners and MTV personalities will curate and spotlight their favorite music videos during the week, aiming to revive the show's rebellious and spontaneous spirit. The 2025 VMAs will take place live at UBS Arena on September 7, with a one-hour pre-show airing across Paramount Media Networks. Paramount’s co-CEOs emphasize that Van Toffler's return is meant to reignite the VMAs’ cultural impact by blending music, spectacle, and innovation across every format.