ABC's ratings for Oscars are down slightly - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-28-2005, 06:34 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...1015232.htm?1c

NEW YORK - With comedian Chris Rock, the Academy Awards succeeded in its effort to find a younger audience - but perhaps at the expense of the country as a whole.

A total of 41.5 million viewers tuned in Sunday to watch "Million Dollar Baby" take the Oscar for best picture. That's down 2 million from last year's show, which honored "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," according to Nielsen Media Research.

ABC undoubtedly hoped for better, after preliminary figures released earlier Monday from the top 56 markets were the strongest they were in five years.

The drop in total viewership was an indication that this year's Oscar ceremony was more popular in the big cities than rural areas, more so than an average Academy Awards, said Larry Hyams, vice president of audience analysis and research for ABC.

Oscar ratings were up from last year among viewers aged 18 to 34 - a prime target for the advertisers who pay millions of dollars for time on what is traditionally the year's highest-rated program after the Super Bowl.

Hyams attributed the boost in young viewership to Rock.

"The academy made a concerted effort to go in a different direction and try to appeal to a younger audience with the Academy Awards, and it appears they have succeeded," he said.

It was the 12th time since 1990 that the Academy Awards drew an audience of between 40 and 46 million people, according to Nielsen. The peak during that stretch was the "Titanic" year of 1998 with 55.2 million, and the low point was 33 million in 2003, when "Chicago" won.

Rock said backstage after the Oscars that he hoped to do it again, although "who knows if they would want me again."

He attracted plenty of pre-Oscars publicity, including speculation about whether he would make jokes at the expense of President Bush (he did) or test ABC censors with curse words (he didn't).

"Put it this way, I don't curse in front of my mother," Rock said. "And my mother was front and center, you know, right in my view. So I could never curse in front of Rose Rock, so why would I do it on television?"

Brian Damage · 02-28-2005, 06:38 PM

Down 2 million is more than slightly.

Chelsea · 02-28-2005, 06:47 PM

2 Million? That is not a small number. That is a BIG number.

A cookie to the First Person who figures out where the not a small number thing comes from...

Honestly, my opinion as it regards the Oscars is, simply:
I'm seeing Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal getting preempted for THIS?!?

Janice · 02-28-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Down 2 million is more than slightly.

How can they claim slightly down? I don't get it.

Brian Damage · 02-28-2005, 07:08 PM

well somebody changed my thread title. I think it is more than slightly.

*MIBabe03* · 02-28-2005, 07:09 PM

Now maybe if they had Desperate Housewives on instead, their ratings wouldn't have gone down.

Pavan · 02-28-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Down 2 million is more than slightly.

It was right on par with last year really. Adults 18-49 rating was almost exactly the same and adults 18-34 was higher than last year. In comparison, this year was higher by 8.5 million viewers than 2003's 33 million.

Also, for the top 56 markets, this year's Oscars were the highest rated since 2000. Since this year there was no "popular" film, I think these ratings are more than good.

ABC's notes:

“Oscar Countdown 2005” (8:00-8:30 p.m.) ABC’s red carpet arrivals show, “Oscar Countdown 2005,” attracted an average audience of 27.5 million viewers and a 9.5 rating among Adults 18-49. Compared to last year’s “Countdown,” this year’s telecast was up by 4% in Adults 18-49 (9.5 vs. 9.1).

“77th Annual Academy Awards” (8:30-11:31 p.m.) ABC’s telecast of the “77th Annual Academy Awards” attracted an average audience of 41.5 million viewers and delivered a 14.9 rating among Adults 18-49.

* According to Nielsen, 69.94 million television viewers across the U.S. tuned in to some portion of the 2005 Academy Awards telecast – viewers who watched 6 minutes or more of the telecast.

* The Chris Rock-hosted Academy Awards posted gains among Adults 18-34 and among young women. The Oscars delivered its highest ratings in 3 years among Adults 18-34 (12.7), Women 18-49 (18.3) and Women 18-34 (16.1) – best since the 2002 telecast.

* The 2005 Oscars ranks as TV’s No. 1 entertainment telecast of the season among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

* ABC’s 2005 Academy Awards broadcast (41.5 million) delivered a much larger audience than any other awards show this season: NBC’s 2005 Golden Globes (16.8 million on 1/16/05), CBS’ 2005 Grammy Awards (18.8 million on 2/13/05), CBS’ 2004 CMA Awards (18.5 million on 11/9/04) and CBS’ 2005 People’s Choice Awards (9.9 million on 1/9/05).

Pavan · 02-28-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan

You're not the only one.

It is slightly ... down 5% in total viewers from 2004. Down 2% in adults 18-49. Up in adults 18-34, and some other demos. Now, you want to talk about ratings down more than slightly, compare 2003 to 2002.

Brent88 · 02-28-2005, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

How can they claim slightly down? I don't get it.

I don't really either. 2 million is a big number.

If Desperate Housewives had been on, I would have watched ABC last night.

*MIBabe03* · 02-28-2005, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

I don't really either. 2 million is a big number.

If Desperate Housewives had been on, I would have watched ABC last night.

Exactly. They rule!

Brent88 · 02-28-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desperate_Fan03

Exactly. They rule!

We get an Oprah movie this Sunday which I WON'T be watching, Jake in Progress on the 13th which I am going to try and who knows what on the 20th(probably Extreme Makeover: HE) which I won't be watching.

*MIBabe03* · 02-28-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

We get an Oprah movie this Sunday which I WON'T be watching, Jake in Progress on the 13th which I am going to try and who knows what on the 20th(probably Extreme Makeover: HE) which I won't be watching.

Yeah. I don't think we get any new DH episodes until March 20 or something like that.

Brent88 · 02-28-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desperate_Fan03

Yeah. I don't think we get any new DH episodes until March 20 or something like that.

Actually, it's probably March 27th, it was supposed to be March 20th(it won't be any earlier for sure).

*MIBabe03* · 02-28-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

Actually, it's probably March 27th, it was supposed to be March 20th(it won't be any earlier for sure).

Really? Whoa that sucks.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-28-2005, 09:25 PM

All I've been hearing is how it had the highest ratings since 2000.

02-28-2005, 06:34 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	ABC's ratings for Oscars are down slightly http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...1015232.htm?1c NEW YORK - With comedian Chris Rock, the Academy Awards succeeded in its effort to find a younger audience - but perhaps at the expense of the country as a whole. A total of 41.5 million viewers tuned in Sunday to watch "Million Dollar Baby" take the Oscar for best picture. That's down 2 million from last year's show, which honored "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," according to Nielsen Media Research. ABC undoubtedly hoped for better, after preliminary figures released earlier Monday from the top 56 markets were the strongest they were in five years. The drop in total viewership was an indication that this year's Oscar ceremony was more popular in the big cities than rural areas, more so than an average Academy Awards, said Larry Hyams, vice president of audience analysis and research for ABC. Oscar ratings were up from last year among viewers aged 18 to 34 - a prime target for the advertisers who pay millions of dollars for time on what is traditionally the year's highest-rated program after the Super Bowl. Hyams attributed the boost in young viewership to Rock. "The academy made a concerted effort to go in a different direction and try to appeal to a younger audience with the Academy Awards, and it appears they have succeeded," he said. It was the 12th time since 1990 that the Academy Awards drew an audience of between 40 and 46 million people, according to Nielsen. The peak during that stretch was the "Titanic" year of 1998 with 55.2 million, and the low point was 33 million in 2003, when "Chicago" won. Rock said backstage after the Oscars that he hoped to do it again, although "who knows if they would want me again." He attracted plenty of pre-Oscars publicity, including speculation about whether he would make jokes at the expense of President Bush (he did) or test ABC censors with curse words (he didn't). "Put it this way, I don't curse in front of my mother," Rock said. "And my mother was front and center, you know, right in my view. So I could never curse in front of Rose Rock, so why would I do it on television?"

02-28-2005, 07:09 PM	#6
MIBabe03 Loving Swingtown! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 28, 2002 Location: TX Posts: 4,646	Now maybe if they had Desperate Housewives on instead, their ratings wouldn't have gone down.
	__________________ Laura and Mario November 10, 2006

02-28-2005, 09:25 PM	#15
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	All I've been hearing is how it had the highest ratings since 2000.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

02-28-2005, 06:38 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Down 2 million is more than slightly.

02-28-2005, 06:47 PM	#3
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	2 Million? That is not a small number. That is a BIG number. A cookie to the First Person who figures out where the not a small number thing comes from... Honestly, my opinion as it regards the Oscars is, simply: I'm seeing Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal getting preempted for THIS?!?

02-28-2005, 07:08 PM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	well somebody changed my thread title. I think it is more than slightly.