The 2022 Oscars’ Viewership Went Up 60% But Was The Second-Lowest Rated Broadcast Ever
Welp, looks like the 94th annual Academy Awards was slightly less of a shit show viewership-wise than the 93rd Oscars. I mean, it was a much bigger shit show in general thanks to Will Smith giving the media writers content to cover for the next year and a half by slapping Chris Rock on live television. But people didn’t even know that was going to happen when they decided to tune in and give the broadcast a 60% increase in viewers over last year. But that’s not saying much, because last year was the least-watched Oscars ever so this year is sitting pretty at the second-least. YAY!
The 2021 Oscars clocked in with just over 10.4 million viewers. This is shit considering the 2020 Oscars were watched by 23.6 million people (which was way down from the 40 million viewers who watched the 2014 Oscars). This year’s Oscars was up 60% overall in ratings, and up 77% in the all-important demographic of 18 to 49-year-olds. via The Hollywood Reporter:
ABC’s broadcast of the Oscars drew 16.62 million viewers and a 3.76 rating among adults 18-49 in the final same-day ratings, which include out of home viewing. Earlier figures, which didn’t include out of home, had the show at 15.36 million viewers and a 3.2 in adults 18-49.
Sunday’s show finished well ahead of the final numbers from last year’s scaled-down ceremony, which had all-time lows of 10.4 million viewers and a 2.12 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The Oscars improved by 60 percent in total viewers and 77 percent among adults 18-49.
Deadline also compiled a list of Oscars viewership dating back a decade so you can see just how much the Oscars have hemorrhaged viewers these last few years. I blame Jimmy Kimmel–after he hosted the first time in 2017 they brought him back again the next year and the show cratered like 8 million viewers. Even after Anne Hathaway and James Franco‘s hosting disaster, more people tuned in the next year! Probably for a palate cleanser.
2021: 10.4 million, Nomandland (No host)
2020: 23.6 million, Parasite (No host)
2019: 29.6 million, Green Book (No host)
2018: 26.5 million, The Shape of Water (Jimmy Kimmel)
2017: 32.9 million, Moonlight (Jimmy Kimmel)
2016: 34.4 million, Spotlight (Chris Rock)
2015: 37.3 million, Birdman (Neil Patrick Harris)
2014: 43.7 million, 12 Years a Slave (Ellen DeGeneres)
2013: 40.3 million, Argo (Seth MacFarlane)
2012: 39.3 million, The Artist (Billy Crystal)
2011: 37.9 million, The King’s Speech (Anne Hathaway/James Franco)
2010: 41.3 million, The Hurt Locker (Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin)
2009: 36.3 million, Slumdog Millionaire (Hugh Jackman)
2008: 32.0 million, No Country For Old Men (Jon Stewart)
2007: 40. 2 million, The Departed (Ellen DeGeneres)
2006: 38.9 million, Crash (Jon Stewart)
2005 42.1 million, Million Dollar Baby (Chris Rock)
2004: 43.5 million, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King (Billy Crystal)
2003: 33.0 million, Chicago (Steve Martin)
2002: 41.8 million, A Beautiful Mind (Whoopi Goldberg)
2001: 42.9 million, Gladiator (Steve Martin)
Damn, if the Oscars want to hold onto these viewers they’re really gonna have to turn shit up next year! How do you top a celebrity slapping? Simple! Ten easy words: Chris Rock and Will Smith will host together next year.
Pic: Abby Grant/Cover Images/INSTARimages