Oscars 2018: TV ratings hit record low, shedding 6.5 million viewers from last year

Gary Levin | USA TODAY

The 90th Oscars ceremony gave several movies their moment of glory.

But ABC, which broadcast the awards, isn't getting any trophies.

Continuing a recent trend, ratings for the 3 hour and 50 minute telecast dropped to a record low of 26.5 million viewers, down a big 20% from last year's 33 million. The previous record low of 32 million was set in 2008, with Jon Stewart as host, just after an 11-week Hollywood writers' strike that crippled other awards shows.

Jimmy Kimmel repeated as host Sunday in a ceremony that had no dominant films but had to grapple with the Me Too movement and the embarrassing 2017 fiasco in which presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway flubbed the best-picture award by announcing the wrong film.

Analysts say this year's turnout was also likely affected by a group of leading contenders that had limited box-office appeal, as top winners The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri have claimed just $57 million and $52 million domestically.

February's Grammy Awards on CBS dropped 24%, to 19.8 million viewers, while the Golden Globes drew 19 million on NBC in January, a 5% drop.