Oscars Total Viewers Down 6%
By Michael Malone published

The 2016 Academy Awards telecast on ABC averaged a 10.4 rating in adults 18-49, per Nielsen's fast nationals, with 34.3 million viewers. The 18-49 figure is down 4% from last year, while the total viewer number is off 6%.
The 88th annual Oscars telecast was hosted by Chris Rock, who addressed the lack of nominations for minority performers in a blistering opening monologue.
The telecast was hurt in part by the lack of widely enjoyed films claiming prizes. Spotlight, a well-reviewed but lightly viewed feature, won Best Picture, ahead of favorite The Revenant. Crowd-pleaser Star Wars: The Force Awakens was shut out.
The program's notoriously long length--this one went three hours and 21 minutes, not counting the pre-show--also puts a damper on ratings as the night wears on and, for many, sleep beckons.
ABC was pleased to report that the telecast grew year over year in viewers 18-34, with a 9.4 rating, ahead of 2015's 9.3.
Ratings drops for major broadcast events year over year are the norm, as a greater amount of programming choices face viewers, and more take in the program on digital platforms.
Last year's telecast, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, was down 15% from the 2014 affair, at 36.6 million total viewers.
Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.
The smarter way to stay on top of broadcasting and cable industry. Sign up below.
Thank you for signing up to Broadcasting & Cable. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.