Los Angeles, California – The 97th Academy Awards drew in nearly 18.1 million viewers on ABC this past Sunday, showing a 7% decrease from the previous year. This marks the first time in four years that the viewership for the prestigious award show has dropped.
This year’s total viewership for the Oscars was a combination of traditional TV viewership on ABC and livestream views on Hulu, making it the most-watched primetime entertainment telecast for the 2024-2025 TV season so far. Additionally, the Oscars had the highest rating among adults aged 18-49 with a 3.92, which was a 3% increase from the previous year.
Despite the slight decrease in viewership, the 18.1 million viewers were still a significant number, solidifying the Oscars as a major television event. The show also saw success among the younger demographic, with the highest rating among adults aged 18-34 in five years.
During the Hulu livestream of the Oscars, technical difficulties interrupted the viewing experience for many users. Despite the issues, the event continued to captivate audiences until the end, with many tuning in to witness the announcement of the best picture winner.
Conan O’Brien, a first-time host, received positive reviews for his performance at this year’s Oscars. The night belonged to the movie “Anora,” which took home multiple awards including best picture, best actress for Mikey Madison, and wins for best director, editing, and original screenplay for Sean Baker.
Following the Oscars, ABC aired a half-hour preview of the popular show “American Idol,” which saw a boost in viewership thanks to the lead-in from the award show. The singing competition series launched its eighth season with 5.9 million viewers, marking its biggest season premiere in three years.