Oscars 2025 emerges most watched in five years

The ratings for Sunday’s Oscars ceremony actually increased from last year’s three-year high, final Nielsen numbers showed, drawing its largest audience since 2020.

The final count showed 19.69 million people watched Conan O’Brien make his hosting debut at the ceremony on ABC and Hulu, up from the 19.5 million who tuned in last year to see whether Barbie or Oppenheimer would round out their commercial successes with Oscar wins.

It was also up by nearly 20 percent in the 18-49 age demographic, a group of viewers typically targeted by advertisers on broadcast networks.

This year’s 97th Academy Awards saw Anora win five out of its six nominations, including best picture. It also featured an “Oz”-themed performance by Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande; a James Bond tribute by Doja Cat, Raye, and Blackpink’s Lisa; and a Quincy Jones tribute led by Queen Latifah.

The ratings boost was amplified by those who viewed on smaller screens, including phones, computers, and tablets, and younger viewers. The increase continues years of ratings rebounds following a COVID-induced crash in 2021, when 10.4 million people watched, less than half of 2020’s 23.6 million. Overall ratings have still declined by about 50 percent over the last decade.

The boost comes despite viewers of the Hulu telecast reporting technical glitches and critics panning the award show “boring” and “dull.”

Early figures on Monday reported that 18.1 million viewers tuned in, a decrease that raised questions about whether the broadcast will continue its nearly 50-year run on Disney’s ABC after its deal expires in 2028.

The two sides began talks last year about renewing the current $100 million-a-year deal, but one didn’t emerge after an exclusive negotiating period ended, according to Bloomberg. Disney wanted the package to remain the same, while the Academy has pushed for a significant increase.

The Academy has since held informal conversations with other broadcasters and streamers, including Netflix, about airing the show after 2028 and tapping into its global appeal, according to Bloomberg.

 Source: Yahoo News