Last night’s UK Oscars coverage pulled in by far the ceremony’s biggest rating in years, although this was unsurprising given that the awards moved from pay-TV to free-to-air for the first time in two decades.
ITV’s first year covering the world’s biggest night in cinema attracted an average of more than 500,000 viewers, with a peak of 1M just after the start, which naturally dipped quite swiftly. After about an hour it hit the 500,000 average and didn’t get much above that for the rest of the program. At its highest, the coverage was pulling in a 28% share of all audiences who were watching TV at the time.
This rating compared with just 35,000 on Sky Cinema in 2024, although again drawing comparisons between the two is difficult. Sky also showed parts of the Oscars on other channels.
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Last night’s coverage aired from 10.30 p.m. GMT (2.30 p.m. PT) onwards and was helmed by Jonathan Ross, with a dedicated Oscars channel running on ITVX. Ross was joined by Jason Isaacs, Mariella Frostrup and Elle Osili-Wood. Before the show started they talked the audience through the big nominees, analyzed those that might win and weaved in some Red Carpet coverage.
ITV won the rights from Sky last year following a deal with Disney after a 20-year run for the awards on the Comcast-owned pay-TV giant.
Bar a few snags and an odd James Bond tribute, the Conan O’Brien-hosted U.S. coverage came out the blocks with a strong set of reviews. Anora was the big winner on the night, taking home Best Picture and a record four for its director Sean Baker.
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