ABC is now reporting that the 82nd Annual Academy Awards averaged 41.3 million viewers, up almost 14% from last year's 36.3 million, and making it the most viewed Academy Awards since 2005's show.
Here are the historical Academy Awards ratings and viewership for comparison.
Academy Awards TV Ratings Data, 1953-2009:
| Year | Net | HH Rating | HH Share | Homes (million) | Viewers (million) | Best Picture | $/ 30 sec. ad | |
| 2009 | ABC | 20.6 | 31.0 | 23.567 | 36.310 | Slumdog Millionaire | $993,400 | |
| 2008 | ABC | 18.7 | 29.0 | 21.073 | 32.006 | No Country For Old Men | $1,820,000 | |
| 2007 | ABC | 23.6 | 37.0 | 26.317 | 40.172 | The Departed | $1,665,800 | |
| 2006 | ABC | 23.1 | 35.0 | 25.405 | 38.939 | Crash | $1,646,800 | |
| 2005 | ABC | 25.4 | 38.0 | 27.876 | 42.139 | Million Dollar Baby | $1,503,000 | |
| 2004 | ABC | 26.0 | 40.0 | 28.212 | 43.531 | Lord of the Rings: Return of the King | $1,503,100 | |
| 2003 | ABC | 20.4 | 32.0 | 21.769 | 33.043 | Chicago | $1,345,800 | |
| 2002 | ABC | 25.4 | 42.0 | 26.832 | 41.782 | A Beautiful Mind | $1,290,000 | |
| 2001 | ABC | 26.2 | 40.0 | 26.800 | 42.944 | Gladiator | $1,450,000 | |
| 2000 | ABC | 29.2 | 48.0 | 29.437 | 46.333 | American Beauty | $1,305,000 | |
| 1999 | ABC | 28.6 | 46.0 | 28.466 | 45.615 | Shakespeare in Love | $1,000,000 | |
| 1998 | ABC | 34.9 | 55.0 | 34.160 | 55.249 | Titanic | $950,000 | |
| 1997 | ABC | 27.4 | 46.0 | 26.531 | 40.075 | The English Patient | $850,000 | |
| 1996 | ABC | 30.3 | 50.0 | 29.016 | 44.867 | Braveheart | $795,000 | |
| 1995 | ABC | 32.5 | 53.0 | 31.005 | 48.279 | Forrest Gump | $700,000 | |
| 1994 | ABC | 31.1 | 49.0 | 29.296 | 45.083 | Schindler's List | $643,500 | |
| 1993 | ABC | 31.2 | 51.0 | 29.047 | 45.735 | Unforgiven | $607,800 | |
| 1992 | ABC | 29.8 | 50.0 | 27.446 | 44.406 | The Silence ofthe Lambs | ||
| 1991 | ABC | 28.4 | 48.0 | 26.440 | 42.727 | Dances With Wolves | ||
| 1990 | ABC | 27.9 | 48.0 | 25.700 | 40.375 | Driving Ms. Daisy | $450,000 | |
| 1989 | ABC | 29.8 | 50.0 | 26.940 | 42.619 | Rain Main | $375,000 | |
| 1988 | ABC | 29.4 | 49.0 | 26.050 | 42.227 | Last Emperor | $360,000 | |
| 1987 | ABC | 27.5 | 43.0 | 24.040 | 37.190 | Platoon | $335,000 | |
| 1986 | ABC | 27.3 | 43.0 | 23.450 | 37.757 | Out of Africa | $320,000 | |
| 1985 | ABC | 27.7 | 45.0 | 23.520 | 38.855 | Amadeus | $315,000 | |
| 1984 | ABC | 30.3 | 50.0 | 25.390 | 42.051 | Terms of Endearment | $275,000 | |
| 1983 | ABC | 38.0 | 59.0 | 31.654 | 53.235 | Gandhi | $245,000 | |
| 1982 | ABC | 33.6 | 53.0 | 27.384 | 46.245 | Chariots of Fire | ||
| 1981 | ABC | 31.0 | 58.0 | 24.120 | 39.919 | Ordinary People | ||
| 1980 | ABC | 33.7 | 55.0 | 25.713 | 48.978 | Kramer vs. Kramer | ||
| 1979 | ABC | 34.6 | 63.0 | 25.770 | 46.301 | Deer Hunter | ||
| 1978 | ABC | 36.3 | 68.0 | 26.460 | 48.501 | Annie Hall | ||
| 1977 | ABC | 31.1 | 63.0 | 22.140 | 39.719 | Rocky | ||
| 1976 | ABC | 35.5 | 64.0 | 24.710 | 46.751 | One... Coockoo's Nest | ||
| 1975 | NBC | 35.0 | 62.0 | 23.980 | 48.127 | GodfatherPart II | ||
| 1974 | NBC | 36.7 | 68.0 | 24.300 | 44.712 | The Sting | ||
| 1973 | NBC | 37.8 | 68.0 | 24.490 | The Godfather | |||
| 1972 | NBC | 38.7 | 70.0 | 24.030 | The French Connection | |||
| 1971 | NBC | 38.2 | 70.0 | 22.960 | Patton | |||
| 1970 | ABC | 43.4 | 78.0 | 25.390 | Midnight Cowboy | |||
| 1969 | ABC | 31.8 | 56.0 | 18.130 | Oliver! | |||
| 1968 | ABC | 34.4 | 67.3 | 19.260 | In the Heat of the Night | |||
| 1967 | ABC | 41.2 | 74.9 | 22.620 | A Man for All Seasons | |||
| 1966 | ABC | The Sound of Music | ||||||
| 1965 | ABC | 37.4 | 69.3 | 19.670 | My Fair Lady | |||
| 1964 | ABC | 37.0 | 71.3 | 18.980 | Tom Jones | |||
| 1963 | ABC | 37.2 | 71.0 | 18.526 | Lawrence of Arabia | |||
| 1962 | ABC | 37.1 | 75.4 | 18.179 | West Side Story | |||
| 1961 | ABC | The Apartment | ||||||
| 1960 | NBC | 45.8 | 82.4 | 20.430 | Ben-Hur | |||
| 1959 | NBC | 46.7 | 82.0 | 20.284 | Gigi | |||
| 1958 | NBC | 46.3 | 78.2 | 19.210 | The Bridge on The River Kwai | |||
| 1957 | NBC | 37.3 | 69.2 | 14.187 | Around The World In 80 Days | |||
| 1956 | NBC | 48.0 | 70.0 | 16.251 | Marty | |||
| 1955 | NBC | 45.0 | 57.0 | 18.785 | On the Waterfront | |||
| 1954 | NBC | 55.0 | 82.0 | 14.953 | From Here To Eternity | |||
| 1953 | NBC | 49.7 | 82.0 | 10.912 | The Greatest Show On Earth |
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*2006-2009 results are Live+SD, all previous years are Live viewing.
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2010 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
probably becuase of avater.
probably becuase of avater.
well, THAT and just the general fact of (pretend) pandering to the masses, even though the same type of movies won the awards – the indies
well, THAT and just the general fact of (pretend) pandering to the masses, even though the same type of movies won the awards – the indies
ABC been airing it all these years but NBC did have them in the early years but since 1976 ABC’s had. ABC was one hell of a network back in the late 70s it sucks now.
The thing about the Oscars back then is that you knew about almost every movie that was released b/c they were popular theatrical hits. Now in days you always have a whole bunch of films that you don’t know about. It was refreshing to see The Blind Side, Precious, Invictus, and Avatar all get nominated. I guess the Oscars have really stopped the over exposure of independent card since No Country for Old Men won.
is there anything wrong with independent movies winning awards? if they’re the better movie, they deserve to win.
ABC been airing it all these years but NBC did have them in the early years but since 1976 ABC’s had. ABC was one hell of a network back in the late 70s it sucks now.
The thing about the Oscars back then is that you knew about almost every movie that was released b/c they were popular theatrical hits. Now in days you always have a whole bunch of films that you don’t know about. It was refreshing to see The Blind Side, Precious, Invictus, and Avatar all get nominated. I guess the Oscars have really stopped the over exposure of independent card since No Country for Old Men won.
is there anything wrong with independent movies winning awards? if they’re the better movie, they deserve to win.
Jared is right on the money. The BEST picture should win…not the most popular.
Jared is right on the money. The BEST picture should win…not the most popular.
It was without a doubt the best Academy Awards I’ve seen in years. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were great and there was just about zero political correctness in their jokes. The dance routine was bit artsy for the overall feel of the show but everything else was great. I still feel that Precious should never have been nominated, I’ve seen the movie and I know others who have and personally I think there’s very little about it that’s awards worthy. Overall though the night had a great feel and I hope they can do as well next year.
It was without a doubt the best Academy Awards I’ve seen in years. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were great and there was just about zero political correctness in their jokes. The dance routine was bit artsy for the overall feel of the show but everything else was great. I still feel that Precious should never have been nominated, I’ve seen the movie and I know others who have and personally I think there’s very little about it that’s awards worthy. Overall though the night had a great feel and I hope they can do as well next year.
“is there anything wrong with independent movies winning awards? if they’re the better movie, they deserve to win.”
Exactly, the grammy’s are a joke because they are essentially a popularity contest. I’m very glad that the Oscar’s actually award based on quality and not popularity. If you want to see popular movies win awards, that’s what the people’s choice are for.
“is there anything wrong with independent movies winning awards? if they’re the better movie, they deserve to win.”
Exactly, the grammy’s are a joke because they are essentially a popularity contest. I’m very glad that the Oscar’s actually award based on quality and not popularity. If you want to see popular movies win awards, that’s what the people’s choice are for.
If the Academy wants average people to watch the Oscar telecast, it will have to nominate movies average people have seen. Some years, the Academy doesn’t seem to care as much and those years tend to result in a smaller audience. The film buffs will always be there. The question is how to get casual viewers. Avatar is a better draw than The Hurt Locker.
If the Academy wants average people to watch the Oscar telecast, it will have to nominate movies average people have seen. Some years, the Academy doesn’t seem to care as much and those years tend to result in a smaller audience. The film buffs will always be there. The question is how to get casual viewers. Avatar is a better draw than The Hurt Locker.
Lets get more Viewers!
Lets expand the Nominees so we put in a Couple of Mainstream Films so Viewers can have something to root for! (It doesn’t matter because we’re voting for the “Artsy” Movies anyways, since we care less about who watches them besides ourselves!)
I saw this coming, needless to say it was “Business as usual” for my DVD Player last night!
Lets get more Viewers!
Lets expand the Nominees so we put in a Couple of Mainstream Films so Viewers can have something to root for! (It doesn’t matter because we’re voting for the “Artsy” Movies anyways, since we care less about who watches them besides ourselves!)
I saw this coming, needless to say it was “Business as usual” for my DVD Player last night!
Well, the results were a huge ( and great ) surprise for me. Sure, there are great popular movies that should’ve been nominated to the Oscars ( Some even won ) in previous years. Avatar isn’t one of them. It was probably the worst movie of the 10 ( Next to The Blind Side ). Sure, it deserved every single technical Oscar, perhaps even directing, but never Best Picture ( And everyone was sure it was gonna take it! ).
I just wonder how much the adds costed, assuming the telecast would follow last years trend, but ending up being the biggest one in 5 years.
Well, the results were a huge ( and great ) surprise for me. Sure, there are great popular movies that should’ve been nominated to the Oscars ( Some even won ) in previous years. Avatar isn’t one of them. It was probably the worst movie of the 10 ( Next to The Blind Side ). Sure, it deserved every single technical Oscar, perhaps even directing, but never Best Picture ( And everyone was sure it was gonna take it! ).
I just wonder how much the adds costed, assuming the telecast would follow last years trend, but ending up being the biggest one in 5 years.