The 97th Academy Awards in 2025 marked a significant turning point, attracting an updated viewership of nearly 19.7 million across ABC and Hulu, making it the most-watched ceremony in five years. This impressive figure, including digital device viewers, represented a 1% increase over the 2024 telecast and secured its spot as the number one primetime entertainment telecast of the 2024-25 TV season.

Beyond the strong viewership, the 2025 Oscars, hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien, proved to be a goldmine for advertisers. According to data from EDO, ads broadcast during the ceremony were a remarkable 172% more effective than the average primetime programming. This means that to achieve the same impact as a single Oscar ad, brands would need to air approximately 88 primetime commercials elsewhere. Industries such as film, pharmaceuticals, telecom, and restaurants saw particularly high engagement, with top-performing brands including Volkswagen, Starbucks, and Emirates.

Oscars
Oscars — Photo: Alan Light / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, led by CEO Bill Kramer, continues to navigate a complex and fragmented media landscape. While traditional broadcast viewership faces challenges from the rise of streaming services and diverse digital platforms, the Academy is adapting. Social media played a crucial role in the 2025 event's relevance, generating 104.2 million social interactions, surpassing the Grammy Awards but remaining behind the Super Bowl.