Earlier Start Time Propels ‘The Oscars®’ on ABC To Hit 4-Year High in Viewers

“The Oscars®” (7:00-10:29 p.m. – 19.5 million and 3.81 rating in AD18-49):
Starting one hour earlier than usual, the 96th Oscars on ABC drew an average audience of 19.5 million Total Viewers and scored a 3.81 rating among Adults 18-49 based on Fast National Live+Same Day program data.

• “The Oscars” hit a 4-year high in Total Viewers (19.5 million) – since the 2020 broadcast.
• “The Oscars” grew for the 3rd straight year in Total Viewers, improving over last year’s broadcast by nearly 1 million viewers (19.5 million vs. 18.8 million).
• ABC’s broadcast of the 96th Oscars peaked in the final half-hour (10:00-10:29 p.m.) with 21.9 million Total Viewers.
• The 96th Oscars stood as the strongest awards show telecast on any network in 4 years in Total Viewers (19.5 million) – since ABC’s broadcast of the 2020 Oscars on 2/9/20.
• The 2024 Oscars also ranked as the top entertainment special in primetime on any network in 4 years in Total Viewers (19.5 million) – since ABC’s broadcast of the 2020 Oscars on 2/9/20.
• With 5 million Total Viewers, “The Oscars” on ABC outdrew “The GRAMMYS®” on CBS by 14% (17.1 million on 2/4/24) and “The Golden Globes®” by 105% (9.5 million on 1/7/24) and “The 75th Emmy Awards®” on Fox by 333% (4.5 million on 1/15/24).
• The 96th Oscars ranked as the No.1 most social program on Sunday, generating 28.5 million total social interactions and growing 4% from last year’s ceremony (27.4 million).
• “The Oscars” stood as the 1 entertainment program of the year to date in terms of social video consumption with 71.8 million video views.
• #Oscars was the 1 trending topic in the U.S. on X throughout the telecast and the No. 1 most used X hashtag worldwide on Sunday.
• “Abbott Elementary” (10:30-11:02 p.m. – 6.9 million and 1.42 rating in AD18-49):

Following the 96th Oscars, a special original telecast of “Abbott Elementary” scored new series highs in both Total Viewers (6.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.42 rating).

Excluding repeats, “Abbott Elementary” delivered the highest-rated telecast for any sitcom on any network in nearly 4 years among Adults 18-49 (1.42 rating) – since the series finale of ABC’s “Modern Family” on 4/8/20.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast National Live+Same Day Program Ratings for 3/10/24 and National Live+Same Day Program Ratings, unless stated otherwise. Talkwalker Social Content Ratings, based on linear episode-level interactions, U.S.-based activity, 1/1-3/10/24. Twitter Trending Archive, Worldwide Twitter Trends, 3/10/24.

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