AUDIENCE HISTORY!! Oscars 2025 Got The Biggest Audience in 5 years 

The 97th Academy Awards defied expectations with its highest viewership in five years, drawing an estimated 19.7 million viewers, according to figures reported by ABC.

Despite the dominance of smaller, less mainstream films like "Anora," which secured five Oscars including Best Picture, the ceremony managed to surpass last year's 19.5 million viewers. Hosted by Conan O'Brien, the event benefited from major nominations for "Wicked" and a captivating opening performance by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, adding to its appeal.

Significantly, the Oscars saw a notable increase in viewership among the crucial 18 to 49 age group, largely driven by mobile and laptop streaming—a testament to evolving viewing habits. ABC hailed it as the most-watched primetime entertainment show of 2025 so far, marking a resurgence from pandemic-era lows.

In India, the awards were streamed live on JioHotstar and figures on the app’s screen during the livestream showed that 0.1 million viewers were streaming it from India. Debut host O'Brien’s even acknowledged Indian audiences with a special message in Hindi during his opening monologue.

However, the event's peak viewership of 55 million during "Titanic's" reign in 1998 remains unmatched, highlighting a broader trend of declining viewership in recent years until a modest rebound starting in 2022. Despite Hulu's first-time livestream experiencing glitches, missing critical moments like Mikey Madison's Best Actress win and "Anora's" Best Picture triumph, the Oscars still outperformed other major awards shows, notably surpassing the Grammys' 15.4 million viewers.

Overall, while smaller films took centre stage, their critical acclaim translated into renewed viewer interest, reaffirming the Oscars' enduring appeal even amidst changing media consumption patterns and competitive entertainment options.