Oscars Viewership Ratings Hit a Record Low
There has been a nearly 20 per cent drop in viewership compared to last year.
The ABC telecast of 90th Academy Awards for American audiences attracted the fewest viewers from the time such records have been maintained, according to data released by Nielsen.
It also represents a startling drop as recently as four years ago, the Academy Awards had an audience of 43.7 million viewers.
The previous record low was in 2008 when 32 million viewers watched a hastily organised ceremony that proceeded just days after the Writers Guild of America's strike had ended.
Moving the ceremony up to 8 p.m. on Sunday on ABC -- a half-hour earlier than its 8:30 p.m. slot -- also didn't help.
The Shape of Water emerged as the big winner with four honours at the 90th Academy Awards ceremony, including Best Picture.
The stars mostly stayed away from the industry's concerns over US President Donald Trump administration (a contrast from a politics-heavy Golden Globes and Emmys), though it did emphasise the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.
The show was aired in India on Star Movies and Star Movies HD, but there was no clarity on behalf of the channel about ratings that the gala generated in the country.
Interestingly, US President Donald Trump took a dig at the low ratings on social media, saying that the problem is “we don’t have Stars anymore - except your President (just kidding, of course)!”. Kidding, were you, Mr President?
(Inputs: IANS)
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