Oscars 2022 Ratings Up From Last Year (But Still Second-Lowest Ever)
Despite being shrouded in controversy, the 2022 Oscars broadcast rebounds from all-time low ratings but doesn't reach pre-pandemic numbers. The 93rd Academy Awards only captured around 10 million viewers, a historic dip for the popular awards show that usually draws over 20 million. An unconventional telecast date and unfamiliarity with its nominees could have contributed to the abysmal performance. Still, last year's show was objectively terrible from a rating standpoint compared to pre-pandemic broadcasts.
The 94th Academy Awards were already navigating this precedent toward an uncertain destination, but several factors worked to the Academy's advantage this time around. This year, the ceremony returned to its usual premiere timeframe of February-March, featuring several prevalent blockbuster films in its nominee pool, including Dune, Cruella, Encanto, and West Side Story. But the lead-up to the Oscars was not without its drama, including the Academy's decision to cut eight categories from the live broadcast and Sean Penn's ostentatious boycotting of the show if the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not featured. It's unclear whether the aspect of familiarity or the drama helped, but this year's show saw a turnaround.
Related: Oscars 2022: Biggest Snubs & Surprises
THR reports that the 2022 Oscars on ABC saw a significant jump in ratings from the 2021 broadcast, up 56 percent from the pre-adjusted figures in total viewership and 68 percent in the ages 18-49 demographic. Officially, 15.36 million viewers tuned in, resulting in a 3.2 rating among the key demographic, according to Nielsen's time zone-adjusted national ratings. While it is a positive trend, the numbers make it the second least-watched show in
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