Oscar ratings on the rise (but still 3rd lowest ever - Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Variety ^ | February 23, 2009 | Rick Kissell

[abb]

Powered by strong showings in the country's biggest markets, the 81st annual Academy Awards telecast on ABC produced improved ratings Sunday night -- rising by about 6% in Nielsen's metered-market overnights vs. last year's record low.

According to the Nielsen estimates, which measure roughly 50 of the biggest markets in the U.S., the Oscars averaged a 23.3 household rating/35 share from 8:30 to about 11:45 p.m. ET. Last year's telecast averaged a 21.9/33 in the overnights, translating to about 32 million viewers nationally.

New York delivered the largest rating Sunday (34.1/49 share), followed by Chicago (31.2/46) and Los Angeles (28.1/44). On the night, ABC beat the combined household delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox by roughly 30%.

Total-viewer estimates, as well as ratings in key demographic categories, will be issued by Nielsen later this morning, but it's a good bet that this year's kudocast will move comfortably ahead of last year's all-time low, which prompted some tweaking of the show's format. Last year's Oscar ratings were held down in part by lower ratings circulation at ABC and less awards-show buildup due to the writers strike.

Prior to last year, the smallest crowd on record for the Academy Awards came in 2003, when an average aud of 33.04 million tuned in.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Thanks.. with a few very notable exceptions, this year was actually better than it’s been in a very long time.

[martin_fierro]

“I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”

Mr Penn:

Reflect on this:

1. I voted in favor of Prop 8.
2. I'm not going to have any grandchildren.
3. I'm not ashamed of how I voted.

Three strikes. You're out.

[Borges]

No single event is going to have huge ratings like in the 80s and earlier anymore because of how fragmented the TV audience is. It was still the biggest audience for any prime time event in two years. It was a pretty classy ceremony for the most part.

[TChris]

The number and pomposity of entertainer award shows will eventually grow to the point that none of the actors, actresses and musicians will actually produce anything any longer. They’ll just spend all their time giving and receiving awards with one another.

[abb]

Pretty close to accurate. What is happening is the monopoly of creating and distributing audio and video entertainment has been taken from Hollywood. Common folks can make movies, create music and distribute them on their own.