Oscars 2019 Ratings Rise From Last Year to 29.6 Million Viewers

By Joe Otterson

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – The ratings for the 2019 Oscars telecast are up slightly from last year.

In the time zone adjusted fast national ratings, the awards show drew a 7.7 rating in adults 18-49 and 29.6 million viewers on Sunday. That is up from a 6.8 rating and 26.5 million in 2018. That is an increase of approximately 12% in total viewers and 13% in the key demo. And while that is up from last year’s historic low, this year was the second smallest audience ever for an Academy Awards telecast.

The awards show, which went without a host this year, drew a 20.6 rating in metered market households, up approximately 6% from the 18.9 last year’s telecast drew.

The 2018 ’ household rating was down approximately 16% from the 22.5 rating drawn by the telecast in 2017. The 2018 Oscars initially drew a 6.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 24.4 million viewers before rising to a 6.8 rating and 26.5 million. That final number is the lowest viewership for an Oscars telecast in the show’s history.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” proved to be the big winner of the night, taking home four awards including best actor for star Rami Malek. “Roma,” “Black Panther,” and “Green Book” took home three Oscars each, with ‘Green Book” nabbing the best picture statuette. Spike Lee also took home his first competitve Oscar, winning for best adapted screenplay for the film “BlacKkKlansman.”

Other winners included “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” for best animated film and Olivia Colman  for best actress.

Immediately after the Oscars, ABC offered a preview of the new series “Whiskey Cavalier.”