More tuned in to Oscars telecast, early numbers show: reports
(Reuters) - The U.S. television audience for the first hostless broadcast of the Academy Awards in 30 years rose slightly from last year based on preliminary viewership figures, according to reports from Hollywood trade publications on Monday.
Early metered market ratings for the 3 hour and 20 minute telecast on Sunday were higher than comparable preliminary Nielsen results last year, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood reported.
Final audience numbers for the 2018 telecast on Walt Disney Co’s ABC had been the Oscars’ lowest ever.
This year’s show, which ran about 40 minutes shorter than the 2018 program, had a 20.1 rating in metered market households, up roughly 6 percent from 18.9 last year, Variety said. ABC will report updated numbers later on Monday.
Road trip movie “Green Book” triumphed over “Roma” to win best the best picture Oscar on Sunday.
Details had been scant about the ceremony broadcast on Sunday, which also dispensed with its traditional opening monologue skewering celebrities and politicians, bringing a curiosity factor to the final and biggest awards show of the season.
Comedian Kevin Hart withdrew from the host job in December after past homophobic tweets resurfaced. It was only the second time the show went without a host in its 91-year history.
In 2018, the live Oscars show averaged 26.5 million total viewers, according to final Nielsen data released by ABC, a record low and down from 32.9 million in 2017.
The 2019 Oscars were a win for films telling stories from a range of racial and cultural perspectives, marking a major shift three years after the movie industry’s top awards show was slammed for overlooking work by nonwhite artists.
Television viewership has been declining as audiences migrate to streaming options. The Nielsen data does not include viewing of the Oscars on digital and mobile platforms.
Advertisers covet live audiences because they are more likely to view commercials than those watching recorded content. ABC owns broadcast rights for the Oscars through 2028.
Writing by Meredith Mazzilli; Editing by Nick Zieminski
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