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Oscar TV Ratings: Early Returns Show Gain

Feb 23, 2009  •  Post A Comment

There’s an early glimmer of hope that this year’s Oscar ratings won’t be quite as bad as some prognosticators had feared.
Oscars
Accurate Nielsen numbers for Sunday’s Oscars won’t be available until later today, but in the nation’s biggest TV markets, at least, the show managed to register a year-to-year increase. In Nielsen’s overnight metered market ratings, the 81st annual Academy Awards averaged a 23.3 rating and a 35 share from 8:30-11:30 p.m., a 6% increase over 2008 (21.9/33).
The metered markets number doesn’t include the last half-hour of Sunday’s Oscar broadcast. In addition, it doesn’t gauge how the show did in key demographic groups, the data ABC uses to sell the show to advertisers.
Some ratings analysts had feared the dearth of blockbuster movies and stars among this year’s nominees could depress numbers for the Oscar broadcast. 2008’s Oscars set a new ratings low, prompting a top-to-bottom makeover of the show.
However, it’s worth noting that awards shows have been on something of a comeback this season. Both the Grammys and the American Music Awards experienced Nielsen upticks with their most recent broadcasts.
ABC expects to have more accurate national Nielsen data by the early afternoon.
Meanwhile, Nielsen said New York (34.1/49) was the top-rated market for Oscar, beating out Chicago (31.2/46), Los Angeles (28.1/44), Boston (27.4/42) and Kansas City (27.1/41).
(Editor: Baumann)

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