Awards Show Wins the Ratings Prize

Despite running 33 minutes longer than expected, ABC’s telecast of the Academy Awards garnered Oscar’s best ratings since 1984, the A.C. Nielsen Co. reported Tuesday.

The broadcast Monday night earned a 29.4 rating and a 49 share, meaning it was seen in about 26 million homes and by 49% of the people who were watching TV between 6 and 9 p.m. (PDT).

ABC researchers estimated that the film industry’s awards ceremonies were seen by 80 million people in the United States.

Local ratings exceeded the national average. The Academy Awards program got a 42.2 rating and a 59 share in the Los Angeles area, meaning it was seen in more than 1.9 million homes and by 59% of the people watching TV during those hours.

Oscar’s national rating was nearly two points higher than the one registered for last year’s Academy Awards and ranked as the best since the 1984 telecast, which drew a 30.3 rating and a 50 share. ABC said that the top-rated Oscar ceremonies since 1961, as far back as its records date, was the one in 1970.