ABC’s telecast of the
Academy Awards Sunday night drew an estimated 15.4 million viewers, up 56% over 2021, while scoring a 2.9 in the key 18-49 demo. This spike has observers wondering whether the increase in Oscar viewership bespeaks an increased interest in awards shows in general that could carry over to the
Grammys, airing Sunday on
CBS.
The upsurge may be attributable in part to ABC’s efforts to lure a more mainstream audience. In terms of those viewing live, the
Will Smith/Chris Rock dust-up occurred too late in the show to have been a significant factor—apart from keeping eyeballs peeled through the last hour or so of what otherwise would’ve been an interminable running time of three hours and 39 minutes. But it will surely prompt those who DVR'd the show to watch (or re-watch) the slap heard 'round the world, among other moments.
Still, we must bear in mind that the 2022 Oscar ratings were still the second-lowest in history—40% below the 2020 broadcast, which aired a month before the pandemic kicked in. So, apart from the appeal of a celeb-packed
MGM Grand Garden Arena following last year’s surreal, subdued Grammys, along with a newly heightened awareness of the fact that
anything can happen on live TV, CBS and the
Recording Academy will likely consider anything above the show’s 2020 ratings—a record low of 8.8m viewers, off 53% from 2019’s 18.7m—a reassuring comeback if not quite a resounding success.
In any case, we don’t anticipate anyone trading blows onstage during the third hour Sunday night, though there
will be a tussle at our place if the dog tries to get on the couch again.
