The latest viewership figures for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony have painted a somewhat grim picture, revealing a nine per cent drop compared to the previous year. Nielsen data indicates that approximately 17.9 million Americans tuned in live to witness Hollywood’s most prestigious night. This year’s telecast, broadcast on ABC and streamed on Hulu, both Disney-owned platforms, saw the highly acclaimed film “One Battle After Another” clinch the coveted Best Picture award.
Despite what many critics and viewers considered a strong ceremony – with praise for host Conan O’Brien, significant wins for “Sinners,” and the widely accepted victory of “One Battle After Another” for Best Picture, a rare moment of perceived accuracy from the Academy – the audience numbers have continued their downward trend.
Historically, the Oscars were a television powerhouse, regularly attracting audiences exceeding 40 million viewers, with a peak of 43.7 million in 2014. The pandemic significantly impacted viewership, with the 2021 ceremony plummeting to just 10.4 million. While there has been a gradual recovery since then, with 2022 drawing 16.6 million, 2023 reaching 18.7 million, and 2024 seeing a rise to nearly 19.5 million, last year’s event still managed to attract around 19.7 million viewers for the “Anora” sweep. The current figures of 17.9 million represent a step back from this recent upward trajectory.
A Broader Trend in Awards Show Viewership
While the dip in Oscar ratings is a concern, it’s important to note that this isn’t an isolated incident. The decline in viewership is a widespread phenomenon affecting major US awards ceremonies. The Golden Globes, for instance, saw its audience shrink to 8.6 million this year, down from 9.2 million in 2025 and 9.4 million in 2024. Similarly, the Grammy Awards attracted 14.4 million viewers, a decrease from 15.4 million last year and 17 million in 2024. This suggests a larger shift in how audiences engage with televised awards events.
However, it’s premature to declare the Oscars culturally irrelevant. The show’s digital footprint tells a different story, with social media impressions soaring by 42 per cent this year to over 181 million during the telecast, according to Talkwalker’s Social Content Ratings. This indicates that while live television viewership may be declining, the Oscars still command significant online attention and generate buzz.
Factors Contributing to Declining Viewership
Several factors are likely contributing to the reduced live telecast numbers:
- Content Oversaturation and Shifting Attention Spans: In the last decade, the sheer volume of content available across numerous streaming platforms has led to increased competition for audience attention. This, coupled with potentially shorter attention spans, makes it harder for any single event to capture and retain a large live audience.
- Pandemic-Induced Habit Changes: The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered viewing habits for many. With more people accustomed to on-demand viewing and flexible schedules, the traditional live broadcast model may be less appealing.
- Competition for Eyeballs: This year’s Oscars faced direct competition from significant sporting events, such as a World Baseball Classic semifinal between the US and the Dominican Republic, which drew an impressive 7.37 million viewers in its own right.
- Socio-Political Climate: The current socio-political landscape in the US could also be a factor influencing viewing habits, with audiences potentially opting out of traditional entertainment for reasons related to current events.
The Long-Term View
The contrast between the current 17.9 million viewers and the nearly 34.5 million who tuned in back in 2016 is stark. The landscape of media consumption has evolved dramatically in that decade. While the Oscars did maintain its position as the most-watched primetime entertainment telecast of the season, the overall trend suggests a need for adaptation.
The upcoming shift to exclusive broadcasting on YouTube starting in 2029 is a significant move. It remains to be seen whether this will revitalise viewership figures or simply reflect existing trends in content consumption. One thing is almost certain: many viewers will likely still opt to catch the highlights on YouTube the following day, further blurring the lines between live and on-demand engagement. The Academy and broadcasters will be closely watching these evolving patterns to navigate the future of awards show viewership.
