Academy Awards television audience plummets to 9.85 million

The Nielsen company says its preliminary estimate shows the Oscars audience on ABC dipped to slightly under 10 million viewers

NEW YORK -- The Academy Awards television audience plunged to 9.85 million viewers on ABC, less than half of the Oscars' previous low and continuing a startling trend of viewer tune out for awards shows. The Nielsen company's preliminary estimate shows that the audience who watched “Nomadland” win best picture on Sunday was 58% below last year's tally of 23.6 million, which had set the previous record for least-watched Oscars telecast. Following a year where movie theaters were mostly closed due to COVID-19, people were unexcited about or unfamiliar with movies they primarily streamed at home. Producers tried to fight through pandemic fatigue with a hostless program and a small, socially-distanced audience that didn't wear masks during the broadcast. The event drew mixed reviews, and renewed questions about the types of movies the industry makes and wants to honor.