In a move borne partly of corporate synergy, The CW Network will be carrying MTV’s 2020 VMAs on Aug. 30.

The CW, a joint venture of AT&T and ViacomCBS, became one of MTV’s siblings when Viacom and CBS merged last year.

Like most things on linear TV, ratings for the VMAs have been eroding. To reach more potential viewers, Viacom began simulcasting the award shows on its other cable networks.

This year, the VMAs will appear on 11 ViacomCBS brands in addition to The CW.

A 90-minute VMA pre-show will appear only on MTV

The VMAs will be hosted by Keke Palmer from New York City. The show will feature performances by Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, BTS, Black Eyed Peas, Doja Cat, DaBaby, Maluma and CNCO, with more to be announced.

ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike will celebrate 15 years of sports conversation, debate and laughs on Firday morning.

The 15th anniversary of the morning show, which is simulcast on ESPN2, will  emanate from the Downtown Disney stage at Walt Disney World in Orlando on March 6, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET).  Hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic will look back at some of their favorite moments alongside friends and family. 

The landmark show will include performances by Cirque de Soleil, on-site guests, video and audio messages from celebrities and some of the biggest names in sports. The Downtown Disney stage seating area is open to the public, beginning at 5 a.m.

The anniversary episode will feature Greeny and Golic playing a special edition of “Next Question” with every query relating to the 15-year history of the show. Also, Mark Schlereth will interview Chris Golic and Stacy Steponate Greenberg, the hosts’ wives, who have made frequent appearances on the show over the past years. Several on-site guests will offer their memories Mike & Mike memories including: comedian Frank Caliendo, ESPN NFL analysts Cris Carter and Schlereth, First Take’sStephen A. Smith and ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark.  Capping the day, a special member of the Disney family will present the hosts with a gift in the program’s final hour to commemorate the milestone.

“Fifteen years of any show is an accomplishment,” said Amanda Gifford, senior director daytime programming. “The success of Mike & Mike is a testament to the hard-work Greeny and Golic put into the show on a daily basis. We’re planning a fun, creative broadcast that will hopefully tell the story of the show over the years. We have several surprises planned along the way – for Greeny and Golic and the fans.”

Mike & Mike is also offering a 24-hour Twitter sweepstakes that will give fans the opportunity to win a Golic- or Greeny-selected trip. Fans must retweet a designated photo from the @MikeandMike twitter handle with the hashtag #MM15Contest for a chance to win.  The winner will be randomly selected and revealed next week.

To show their appreciation to their fans, Greeny and Golic have been sending custom Mike & Mike 15th Anniversary gift baskets to 200 “superfans” who have been especially engaged with the show via Twitter.  Those selected have been asked to tweet a photo of themselves with their baskets using the hashtag #MM15. Listeners and viewers can share additional photos, comments and messages about the anniversary by tweeting @MikeandMike and using the hashtag #MM15. 

Comprehensive 15th anniversary content – including photo galleries, videos and audio – can be found at: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikeandmike15th.

The CBS/NFL Network simulcasts of Thursday Night Football went out on a strong Nielsen note.

The networks' telecast of the Denver Broncos' 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers averaged a combined 20.2 milion watchers, according to Nielsen fast nationals data. That was the second-biggest audience for TNF in its rookie season under this game plan, trailing only the 20.8 million watchers for the Sept. 11 opener between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens during the height of the Ray Rice frenzy.

The Oct. 23 delivery  -- Peyton Manning threw a trio of touchdowns to Emmanuel Sanders (pictured) to top Philip Rivers and company -- pushed the simulcast average from 16.1 million watchers to 16.5 million after the seven-game run.  That was almost double the 8.5 million for the corresponding stage of the 2013 campaign, when NFL Network aired the games in conjunction with over-the-stations in the participating clubs' DMAs.

CBS, which reported the ratings as a gross average across the two networks since that’s how it was sold to advertisers, easily racked up primetime audience and demo wins against all television competition during its TNF schedule, while also surpassing its 2013 performance in the daypart.  Next week, it will roll out its Thursday scripted lineup showcasting the return of The Big Bang Theory to its regular time slot and the bow of The McCarthys.

Black Rock has one telecast remaining on its one-year $275 million deal with the NFL, a Saturday doubleheader with NFL Network that features the Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Redskins and the Chargers vs San Francisco 49ers.

The NFL's simulcast experiments -- in which the league believes the game airings and promotions on CBS will boost its in-house network's Nielsen fortunes -- will be put to the test next week. On Oct. 30, NFL Network will begin televising Thursday Night Football for the balance of the season, albeit with CBS's production and lead-announce team of Jim Nance and Phil Simms. The New Orleans Saints will visit the Carolina Panthers next Thursday.

A tight one in Foxboro found more than 16 million viewers at home for Thursday Night Football.

CBS and NFL Network's simulcast of the TNF matchup -- New England's Chris Jones block a last-second, 58-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk (pictured) to preserve a 27-25 Patriots' victory over the New York Jets -- averaged a 10.1 rating and 16.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast nationals data. The total included 2.9 million from the NFLN side.

Those numbers were up 140% and 137%, respectively, from the 4.2 rating and 6.8 million viewers from last season's corresponding matchup between Seattle and Arizona that aired on NFL Network and stations in the participating clubs' DMAs.

The Oct. 16 deliveries were virtual replicas of the TNF's season averages for the first six simulcasts: a 10.0 rating, up 79% from last year's 5.6, and 16.1 million, also ahead by that rate from 2013's 9 million watchers.

Per usual, CBS's primetime benefited from TNF averaging 14.8 million viewers, a 36% jump from its lineup on Oct. 17, 2013, while registering even more significant demo advances: 78% among adults 18 to 49 (4.8 from 2.7) and 51% against adults 25 to 54 (5.6 from 3.7).

TNF also gave CBS lopsided Nielsen wins against ABC, Fox, and NBC on the night.