ABC’s Sunday night Oscars broadcast drew 9.85 million viewers, making it the least-viewed Academy Awards ever recorded.
Television audience for the 2021 Oscars fell 58% from 23.6 million viewers for last year’s broadcast, which took place weeks before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted live events and sparked stay-at-home orders nationwide, according to Nielsen data published on Monday
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own network.
While the Oscars’ ratings have plummeted over the years, award shows were especially challenging during the pandemic to attract viewers. Viewership for the Golden Globes, the largely virtual live broadcast on NBC in early March, fell more than 62% year-on-year to 6.9 million.
This year’s Oscars were broadcast on Union Station in Los Angeles. Some parts of the show were filmed at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, which is usually where the 93-year awards ceremony is held. The venue was chosen with the intention of preventing the Oscars – a typically crowded ceremony – from becoming a super-spreader event.
Broadcasting the Oscars isn’t cheap for ABC. The annual rights fee is more than $ 100 million, the most expensive of the awards shows, according to those familiar with the matter. That year, given the circumstances of the broadcast, the network was able to negotiate a lower fee with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said another person familiar with the matter. An academy spokeswoman declined to comment on her contract with ABC.
The dramatic drop in ratings may be a concern for advertisers. That year, ABC was looking for up to $ 2 million for a 30-second spot on the show, said people knowledgeable about the show.
For the third year in a row, the show went out without a host, and this year The musical performances were also kicked off the main ceremony. There was also no orchestra to play off award winners during their speeches, which are often known to last too long. Sunday evening was no exception.
The nominees list was headed by films that were mostly shown on streaming services as cinemas in the US were closed for much of 2020 due to Covid-19.
The big winner the night, Nomadland, the film from Disney’s own specialty studio Searchlight Pictures was also released in theaters on Hulu. â ???? Nomadlandâ ???? received top awards such as best picture and best actress as well as the category of best director.
Chloé Zhao,
the director of « Nomadland » became the second woman and the first Asian woman to win the award.
Anthony Hopkins
won the Best Actor Award for his role in « The Father ». Mr. Hopkins’ victory surprised many who awaited the late actor
Chadwick Boseman
posthumously receiving the award after winning a Golden Globe for his performance in « Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom ». The producers even reversed the order of the awards, ending with the best actor instead of the usual best picture.
Appeared in the print edition of April 27, 2021 as « Oscars Drew Its Smallest TV Audience ».
Ref: https://www.wsj.com
