Oscars 2016: Ratings hit eight-year low
Diversity wasn't the only thing the Oscars were lacking this year. Some viewers would've helped, too. Maybe they can blame it on the boycott.
Chris Rock's second stint hosting the Academy Awards was met with the broadcast's lowest ratings in eight years, according to Deadline. The controversy-courting ceremony only earned a 23.1/37 in metered market results and 31.7 million total viewers, marking a 6% decrease in viewership from last year.
As far as how Rock stacked up to other previous hosts ratings-wise, he's still ahead of pal Jon Stewart, whose 2008 gig only earned a 21.9, but he's behind 2009 host Hugh Jackman, who got 23.3. Rock's previous hosting gig, in 2005, still stands as the best Oscars ratings in more than a decade, pulling in 42.1 million viewers.