The 98th Academy Awards, hosted for the second consecutive year by comedian Conan O'Brien, experienced a notable decline in television ratings, according to data released by The Walt Disney Co. The broadcast, which aired live on ABC and was streamed on Hulu, attracted just under 17.9 million viewers, marking a 9% decrease from the previous year's post-pandemic high of 19.7 million.
Significant Drop in Key Demographic
More concerning for advertisers and network executives is the sharper 14% decline in viewership among adults aged 18-49, a key demographic for broadcasters. This downturn follows several years of gains for the Oscars, which had been recovering from an all-time low of 10.4 million viewers in 2021 during the pandemic.
Historic Context and Current Standing
Despite this year's dip, the Oscars retain their position as the number one primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025-2026 season. In comparison, the Golden Globes, which aired on CBS in January, drew only 8.7 million viewers, itself a 7% drop from the prior year. The Oscars' historical peak was in 1998, when 57.2 million viewers tuned in to see "Titanic" win best picture, with the 1990s often attracting around 45 million viewers annually.
Show Highlights and Social Media Engagement
Sunday's ceremony featured a showdown between two Warner Bros. films, "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners." "One Battle After Another" emerged victorious, winning best picture and best director. Michael B. Jordan claimed the best actor award for "Sinners," which made history as the most nominated film ever with 16 nominations but also set a record for the most losses by a single film, with 12.
While traditional broadcast ratings fell, engagement on social media platforms saw a significant uptick. Primetime social impressions increased by over 42% this year, and Academy social platforms recorded more than 129 million video views throughout the night, indicating a shift in how audiences interact with the event.
Future Changes to Measurement
Looking ahead, broadcast ratings will cease to be a primary metric for the Oscars' success starting in 2029. The show is set to move to YouTube for its 101st awards ceremony, reflecting the evolving landscape of media consumption and the industry's adaptation to digital platforms.
