Oscar Ratings Sink To Lowest Level In A Decade

ABC’s 2017 Academy Awards drew 32.9 million viewers, which was the smallest audience since 2008, despite the memorable as well as controversial ending when "La La Land" was mistakenly named best picture winner instead of "Moonlight."

A Reuters report, quoting Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co., says viewership may have declined because “La La Land” had been a heavy favorite to sweep the awards.

“There was a foregone conclusion that ‘La La Land’ was going to sweep, and there's not much intrigue to knowing the outcome,” the report said quoting Bock. “Obviously, that was one of the most exciting endings in Hollywood history."

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The 89th Academy Awards, which was hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, saw political undertones lifetime achievement award winner Meryl Streep speaking against President Donald Trump. Kimmel also threw occasional jibes at Trump.

Also, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi who bagged the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film for his much-acclaimed film “The Salesman,” boycotted the event to protest against Trump's visa ban for citizens from Iran and several other countries.

"I am sorry I am not with you tonight. My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US,” Farhadi said in a statement.