This years Academy Awards broadcast, hosted by Conan OBrien, sank to a four-year ratings low, underscoring the growing disconnect between Hollywoods self-congratulatory spectacle and the broader American audience.
According to The Post Millennial, Sundays telecast drew just 17.86 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, down nine percent from last years 19.69 million. The show posted a 3.92 rating among adults 1849, a key demographic that entertainment executives have long relied on to justify the industrys increasingly politicized content.
Despite the decline, the Oscars still ranked as one of the more-watched primetime events of the 202526 season, beating out the Grammys 14.41 million viewers and the Golden Globes 8.66 million. Yet the drop is striking given that the ceremony had enjoyed four straight years of growth since the 2021 broadcast, which drew roughly 10 million viewers at a pandemic-era low.
The ratings slump is particularly awkward in light of OBriens attempt to mock conservative media alternatives during the show. In a political bit, he sneered, "I should warn you, tonight could get political, okay, and if that makes you uncomfortable, there's an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. Now, its at the Dave and Busters down the street. A lot of tickets for that.
The joke landed flat when contrasted with the actual performance of Turning Point USAs All American Halftime Show, which Kid Rock headlined in February as a family-friendly alternative to the NFLs increasingly edgy Super Bowl entertainment. TPUSA's alternate halftime show broke records for YouTube livestreams, having over 6.17 million concurrent viewers at its peak, and the TPUSA All-American Halftime show amassed almost 50 million viewers overall.
While OBrien and the Hollywood elite took aim at conservatives, the Academy showered accolades on the openly ideological film "One Battle After Another," described as a woke Antifa propaganda piece, which claimed Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The ceremony also featured a performance of "Golden" from the animated winner "KPop Demon Hunters," along with a tribute honoring the late Rob Reiner, a longtime liberal activist in the industry.
ABCs tenure as the Oscars broadcast home is also nearing its conclusion, raising questions about the shows future reach and relevance. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will move to YouTube under a deal running through at least 2033, a shift that may further fragment the audience even as millions of Americans continue to seek out alternatives that reflect traditional values and patriotic themes championed by organizations like Turning Point USA and leaders such as President Donald Trump.
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