The Oscars telecast drew 17.9 million viewers in the US, marking a four-year low and a 9% drop from last year's audience of 19.7 million according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
The Oscars telecast drew 17.9 million viewers in the US, marking a four-year low and a 9% drop from last year's audience of 19.7 million. The ceremony honored 'One Battle After Another' as Best Picture and featured Conan O'Brien as host for the second consecutive year.
- Oscars viewership hits lowest point since 2022 with 17.9 million viewers
- Ratings down 9% from last year's 19.7 million viewers
- 'One Battle After Another' wins Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards
- Conan O'Brien confirmed to host again next year after positive reception
This decline comes despite high expectations driven by the popularity of major films like 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another'. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien for the second consecutive year, saw 'One Battle After Another' take home the Best Picture award. Audience approval ratings also dipped to 3.92 out of five among the 18-49 age group, down from 4.54 last year.
Despite the drop in viewership, the Oscars remain the top primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025-26 season. Social media engagement saw a significant increase, with social impressions up 42% to 184 million according to The Guardian. The show aired on ABC and Hulu, both owned by Walt Disney.
Criticism arose over audio glitches and the perceived heavy-handed cutting of acceptance speeches. Rob Mills, the Disney executive in charge of the Oscars telecast, acknowledged the issue with speech durations but did not offer a specific solution according to The Guardian. The ceremony also featured political commentary from Jimmy Kimmel, who took shots at President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during his presentation.
Looking ahead, the Oscars will continue to air on ABC and Hulu for two more years before moving to YouTube in 2029. Conan O'Brien's hosting role was confirmed for next year, pending his acceptance according to The Guardian. The move to YouTube follows a financial deal that secured the rights until at least 2033.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.