The 98th Academy Awards drew approximately 17.9 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, marking a 9% drop from last year’s audience. The Walt Disney Company owns both platforms.

The annual ceremony, which honors achievements in film, featured the political thriller One Battle After Another winning the Best Picture award. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio.

Hosted by Conan O'Brien, the broadcast featured musical tributes to recent hits, including K-Pop Demon Hunters and Sinners, the latter directed by Ryan Coogler.

Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his dual role in Sinners, edging out Timothée Chalamet, who had been widely expected to win for Marty Supreme.

The ceremony also featured a lengthy “In Memoriam” segment honoring industry figures, including Robert Redford, with a rare live performance by Barbra Streisand.

Despite the decline, viewership remains above pandemic-era lows. The Oscars drew just 10.4 million viewers in 2021, a record low attributed to COVID-19 disruptions. Since then, audiences had gradually rebounded, aided in part by expanded streaming access.

In 2025, the ceremony saw increased reach when Anora won Best Picture, benefiting from broader digital availability. This year’s drop, however, reflects a wider trend affecting major awards shows, including the Golden Globe Awards and the Grammy Awards, both of which have also reported declining audiences.

Sunday’s broadcast also faced competition from the World Baseball Classic semifinals, in which the United States defeated the Dominican Republic.

Looking ahead, the Oscars are expected to shift distribution platforms, with the ceremony set to stream exclusively on YouTube beginning in 2029.