The 98th Academy Awards hit a viewership low, attracting only 17.9 million viewers on ABC and Hulu — a 9% drop from the previous year and the lowest since 2022.
Despite being hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the show failed to turn things around. The ceremony stretched past 3 hours with numerous performances, speeches, and award presentations, but the slow pace and lack of highlights caused viewers to lose patience. This echoed controversies like when Bill Maher criticized celebrities for their political stances at major entertainment events.
Best Picture went to “One Battle After Another,” but the result wasn’t enough to keep viewers glued to their screens. In reality, many chose to scroll their phones instead of watching live. Even images from the after-party, like the moment Nancy Pelosi attended the Vanity Fair party, were viewed on social media rather than traditional TV screens.
The harsh reality: the Oscars are steadily losing their television audience. In 1998, the show drew 57 million viewers — the current figure shows just how steep the decline has been.
While TV viewership plummeted, social media exploded. The ceremony generated approximately 184 million online interactions, a 42% increase over 2025. Audiences no longer watch the full show — they watch short clips, memes, and highlights. This trend reflects a major shift in how the public consumes community events, sometimes leading to shocking decisions like the cancellation of Bronx Week after more than half a century.
Industry experts point to clear causes: the show is too long, the pacing too slow, and it doesn’t match the quick-consumption habits of modern audiences. Meanwhile, streaming, TikTok, gaming, and digital platforms are capturing all the attention.
Organizers have had to consider changes, with plans to move the Oscars broadcast to YouTube starting in 2029 to recapture younger viewers.
The message is crystal clear: the Oscars are no longer the main stage. Audiences have moved to other platforms. Without change, viewership numbers will continue to fall.
