Ratings for 2020 Oscars Hit All-Time Low
Written by SOURCE on February 10, 2020
The ratings for Sunday night’s Academy Awards are in and they were decidedly unimpressive. By that we mean they hit a new record-low, so, 2018 you’re off the hook.
In total, just 23.6 million people tuned in, which was good for just a 5.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic (which is also way down from last year’s 7.7 in that crucial demo). That represents a 20 percent drop from the 2019 event.
Viewership for the annual ceremony had been trending downward, with one exception, since 43.7 million people decided to watch in 2014. That exception came during last year’s hostless show, when 29.6 million watched, up from 26.5 millon in 2018.
Because of that reversal, organizers tried to replicate the formula with an attention-capturing opening musical number by Janelle Monáe, an intended shorter runtime (that went slightly over), a monologue from Saturday Night Live alums Chris Rock and Steve Martin, and an attempt at a viral musical moment via Eminem,
While it’s unlikely to be of much consolation, the broadcast was still the most-viewed entertainment special since last year’s show. Of note is that, as is the norm, no other broadcast networks made any effort to counterprogram against it.
Also likely to be of little consolation, but still notable, the 2019 Emmys took a similarly big hit, with ratings that were 32 percent lower than the previous year’s effort. Audiences also dropped, though less substantially, for the latest Golden Globes (4 percent) and Grammys (6 percent).
Sunday’s ceremony wrapped with a runtime of three hours and 35 minutes after Parasite took home the night’s final award for Best Picture, becoming the first non-English language film to claim that honor. That movie also got statues for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature.
So, uh, start speculating on who will be the host next year right now whenever you feel like.
