Oscars Viewership Drops, Still Leads Ratings

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien, drew approximately 18.1 million viewers, marking a 7% decrease from the previous year's 19.5 million. Despite this drop, the Oscars remained the most-watched primetime entertainment broadcast of the 2024-2025 TV season and saw increased viewership among adults under 50. The ceremony honored the independent film 'Anora,' which won Best Picture and four other awards but grossed significantly less than last year's winner, 'Oppenheimer.' The show was broadcast on ABC and streamed on Hulu, where technical issues disrupted the livestream for many viewers, potentially affecting overall viewership numbers. Social media engagement for the Oscars was notably high, surpassing other major events like the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl. Advertising revenue for the event totaled $121.5 million, slightly lower than the previous year.