The 96th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, marked a significant uptick in viewership, with 19.5 million people tuning in to watch the prestigious event, according to Nielsen data. This figure represents a four-year high and demonstrates a notable increase from the 18.8 million viewership recorded for the previous year’s Oscars.
The decision by ABC to advance the start time of the telecast by an hour seemed to have paid off, contributing to the heightened interest in the awards ceremony. The earlier timing, coupled with the abundance of nominations for popular films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, likely played a role in attracting a larger audience.
Viewership peaked during the final half-hour of the broadcast, which featured notable moments such as Ryan Gosling’s performance of I’m Just Ken from Barbie and Cillian Murphy’s win for Best Actor in Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan also secured Best Director for Oppenheimer, while the film itself took home the coveted Best Picture award, presented unusually by Al Pacino.
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Despite a slight delay caused by protests outside the venue and a tardy start by host Jimmy Kimmel, the show managed to captivate audiences, marking yet another success story for live television.
Comparatively, the Oscars ratings for 2024 demonstrate a significant improvement over recent years. While the viewership had seen a decline in previous editions, with the pandemic-affected 2021 show being watched by a mere 9.85 million people, this year’s figures signify a resurgence in interest.
Historically, the Academy Awards had consistently ranked as one of the most-watched television programs of the year, often trailing only behind the Super Bowl. However, the landscape of television viewership has evolved, with shifting preferences towards streaming platforms and alternative forms of entertainment. Despite these challenges, the Oscars continue to command attention, reaffirming their status as a cultural touchstone in the realm of entertainment.
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