Oscars Viewership Drops 9% to Lowest Level in Four Years on ABC and Hulu
The 98th Oscars attracted a viewership of 17.86 million across ABC and Hulu, marking the lowest audience figures in four years. This number represents a 9% decline from last year, which drew nearly 20 million viewers, boosted by Disney’s inclusion of PC and mobile counts. However, this year’s viewership remains significantly higher than that of other recent awards shows, including the Golden Globes, Emmys, and Grammys.
The drop in audience numbers raises questions, especially as viewership had been increasing in previous years. The Academy maintained an earlier start time, beginning the ceremony at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. This strategic move aimed to retain viewers who may have disengaged during previous broadcasts, which often extended well past 11 p.m. ET.
Nevertheless, the ceremony nearly became one of the longest in Oscars history. Despite the excitement of historic victories and surprising moments, the lengthy runtime may have deterred some viewers from tuning in.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another* led the night with six wins, while Ryan Coogler’s *Sinners* followed closely behind with four. This year’s awards concluded a lengthy season during which the two productions competed intensely. Amid the backdrop of a substantial $110 billion acquisition by Paramount Skydance, Warner Bros claimed 11 Oscars, while Netflix secured seven, including three for *Frankenstein*. The Netflix film *KPop Demon Hunters* also stood out by winning multiple awards, while other studios were limited to single wins.
Michael B. Jordan triumphed in the competitive Best Actor category for his portrayal of dual roles in *Sinners*, building on his previous success at the Actor Awards two weeks earlier. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley captured the Best Actress award for her performance in Focus Features’ *Hamnet*.
