The 97th Academy Awards have attracted 19.69 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, marking a significant increase from last year’s numbers. This boost comes mainly from streaming platforms, particularly Hulu, which offered the Oscars for the first time this year. While the growth is notable, it’s not as substantial as expected, with only a small gain of around 169,000 viewers compared to 2023.
The Academy has been on a steady incline in terms of viewership, rising from 10.4 million for the 2021 Oscars to 18.8M for the 95th annual ceremony in 2023. The 2022 Oscars saw a notable increase, with 16.6M viewers tuning in after Will Smith’s infamous incident.
However, the added streaming component might not have had the expected impact, partly due to technical issues experienced by Hulu viewers throughout the night. Some users reported difficulties accessing their accounts or being kicked out of the broadcast before key categories were announced.
The length of the show was also a factor, lasting 3 hours and 47 minutes – one of the longest Oscars in record. However, an earlier start time this year helped retain some audiences who might have tuned out in previous years.
While the numbers are slightly higher than last year’s five-year audience high, they still fall short of expectations. The Grammys saw a 9% decline, while the Golden Globes remained largely unchanged. In contrast, the Emmys experienced a significant boost, partly due to their delayed ceremony in 2023.
The ceremony saw several notable wins, including Sean Baker taking home four Oscars for Best Picture and Director, as well as Mikey Madison scoring a win for Lead Actress. Adrien Brody won Best Actor, while Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin surprised audiences with their respective Supporting Actress and Actor wins.
Despite the mixed reception of the Oscars, streaming platforms like Hulu continue to demonstrate positive responses from audiences to live events.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/03/oscar-ratings-2025-1236309304