Skip navigation
sponsored by 

Oscars could reach all-time low in viewership

Audience 14 percent below previous least-watched Academy Awards

updated 1:19 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2008

NEW YORK - The Oscars are a ratings dud. Nielsen Media Research says preliminary ratings for the 80th annual Academy Awards telecast are 14 percent lower than the least-watched ceremony ever.

Nielsen said Monday that overnight ratings are also 21 percent lower than last year, when “The Departed” was named best picture.

The least-watched Oscars ceremony ever was in 2003, when there were 33 million viewers.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement

Nielsen has no estimate yet on how many people watched Sunday night, but based on ratings from the nation’s biggest markets, the Oscars will be hard-pressed to avoid an ignominious record.

The show had a 21.9 rating and 33 share.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links

Resource guide

Get Your 2008 Credit Score

Race the World. 8/31/08

Find a business to start

Movies delivered - Try free

Search Jobs

Find Your Dream Home

$7 trades, no fee IRAs

Find your next car