2018 Awards broadcast was the least-watched Oscars ever
CALIFORNIA, U.S. - Sunday night’s airing of the 90th annual Academy Awards is well on its way to becoming the least watched Oscars broadcast in history.
According to early assessments, the 2018 awards became the least-watched Oscars broadcast in history, recording an all-time low rating - with many analysts blamed the “Walmart box” videos for the drop in viewership.
Early estimates show that the telecast received an 18.9 Live+Same Day rating and if this proves to be true, it would constitute the lowest ratings in the history of the Oscars.
Previously, the Jon Stewart-hosted ceremony in 2008 held the infamous record of being the least-watched Oscars with the show receiving a rating of 21.9.
That year, No Country For Old Men won Best Picture.
This year, despite the fact that The Shape of Water was the highest-grossing Best Picture winner in five years, the ceremony’s viewership suffered dramatically.
According to analysts, the 2018 Academy Awards ceremony, which aired live from 8 PM – 11:54 PM EST, drew an 18.9 Live+Same Day rating in the metered-market households.
That was off 16 percent from last year’s 22.4 rating, which was already a nine-year low.
Last year, the 22.4 metered market rating translated to 32.9 million viewers and a 9.1 rating among adults 18-49.
Over the past decade, Hollywood’s big night recorded its best first round of ratings ever in 2005. The ceremony was hosted by Chris Rock and received 30.1 metered-market households.
That year, Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby won Best Picture, and the broadcast went on to score 42.1 million viewers in the final number.
The 2015 Oscars, fronted by Ellen DeGeneres meanwhile scored 27.9 metered market HH rating and drew the biggest overall audience of the 21st century.
A whopping 43.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the ceremony that year, and 12 Years a Slave won the Best Picture.
On the flip side, following last year’s Envelopegate, which led to Best Picture presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway inadvertently announcing a wrong Best Picture winner, this time around there was no such hitch.
Yet, it as an Oscar do-over for host Jimmy Kimmel, producers Mike De Luca and Jennifer Todd.
At the beginning of the show, Kimmel explained “Black Panther” actress Lupita Nyong'o's Mexican heritage and said, “Let the tweetstorm from the president's toilet begin!”
He also spoke about Jordan Peele and his movie, “Get Out,” joking that President Donald Trump had watched it.
Kimmel said, “Jordan is only the first person in 90 years to be nominated for directing, writing and best picture for his debut film. None other than President Trump called 'Get Out' the best first three-quarters of a movie this year.”
Later, taking a dig at the Vice President Mike Pence, Kimmel spoke about the hit gay romance film, “Call Me By Your Name.”
The host said, “We don't make films like 'Call Me By Your Name' for money. We make them to upset Mike Pence.”
Kimmel also joked about Hollywood men needing to be more like the Oscar statue in that he doesn't have male genitalia.
He said, “Just look at him. Keeps his hands where you can see them, never says a rude word, and most importantly, no penis at all. He is literally a statue of limitations. And that’s the kind of men we need more of in this town.”