This year’s Oscars telecast witnessed a 7% decline in viewership compared to 2024, according to Nielsen data. After experiencing three consecutive years of growth, viewership fell to just over 18 million in the US, encompassing both network ABC and the event’s new streaming partner, Hulu, which faced technical issues during the broadcast.
Ratings for the Oscars have been steadily declining for nearly a decade, largely due to the rise of the internet. Historically, these ratings have mirrored the mainstream appeal of the films competing for the major awards. In 1998, a record 57 million viewers tuned in to witness Titanic’s 11 award wins. However, by 2004, this number dropped to 44 million when The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King matched that record.
The lowest viewership in Oscars history was recorded in 2021 when Nomadland emerged as the big winner. Nevertheless, the viewership figure rebounded to 19.5 million last year, partially thanks to the so-called “Barbenheimer effect.”
ABC reported that over a quarter of its viewers were under the age of 50, with 3.2 million falling within the 18-49 demographic – a youth audience that the Academy is eager to engage. This year’s ceremony kicked off with an extended medley of hits from Wicked, one of the two Best Picture nominees, performed by its Oscar-nominated stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/04/oscars-telecast-ratings-fall-7-to-18m-viewers
