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Oscars 2024: A Steep Decline in Viewership Under Conan O'Brien's Hosting

Numbers Drop for Second Consecutive Year

The 98th Academy Awards delivered another sobering blow to the Oscars’ once-unassailable ratings, with viewership plummeting for Conan O'Brien’s second year as host. The ceremony, broadcast on ABC and Hulu, drew 17.9 million viewers—a 9% decline from his debut and a stark contrast to the 19.7 million who tuned in for the post-pandemic surge in 2023.

The losses weren’t isolated to total viewers. Adults aged 18-49 watched 14% fewer than the previous year, signaling a broader erosion of engagement. Was O’Brien’s hosting style a factor? His first year coincided with "Anora"—a film that dominated the awards—generating buzz that may have lured audiences. This time, that momentum was absent.

Streaming Slump and the Streaming Revolution

Digital viewership also declined, reflecting a worrying trend: fewer people opted to watch online compared to 2023. The Oscars, once a must-watch cultural event, now face a harsh reality—traditional TV broadcasts are losing their grip.

The Oscars’ Shrinking Legacy

The 2024 ceremony marked the smallest audience in Oscars history, a far cry from the glamorous, must-see TV it once was. Even star power—Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix took the stage—couldn’t reverse the slide. Experts point to a fundamental shift in media consumption: streaming platforms, social media, and on-demand content have rewritten the rules. Why wait for a one-night event when viewers can watch clips, highlights, or entire films instantly?

Can the Oscars Adapt—or Will They Fade?

With awards shows facing existential competition, the Academy may need a radical overhaul to reclaim relevance. The question looms: Will tradition survive, or is the Oscars’ golden age in the rearview mirror?