VMAs 2013 was available on several different networks, so viewers had a choice on what channel to watch the VMAs:
Factoring in all the simulcasts on MTV, MTV2, VH1 and Logo TV, the debut clocked 10.3 million total viewers
So it's clear that VH1 and the other minor networks took some viewers away from MTV's main network. This is the first time they did a simulcast with VH1
8.2M from MTV main network + 2.3M from VH1 and other minor networks. It was a simulcast and available on different channels, so viewers had different options to watch it.