Chris Rock-Hosted ACADEMY AWARDS Hits 8-Year Ratings Low

Variety reports that last night's ACADEMY AWARDS, hosted by comedian Chris Rock were the lowest rated Oscar show in the past eight years, according to overnight ratings.

This year's broadcast aired amidst a controversy and protests regarding the lack of diversity among the nominees. (Watch Chris Rock's opening monologue on the controversy HERE)

In Nielsen's metered market overnights, which include 56 of the nation's largest markets, the awards show averaged 23.4 household rating/36 share from 8:30 to midnight ET, a 6% dip from last year's 25.0/38 and 16% below the 10-year high of 27.9/41 from 2014.

The previous lowest Oscar overnights were in 2008 when Jon Stewart hosted the event, which delivered a 21.9/33. That show averaged 32 million viewers, the smallest on record, according to Nielsen.

The broadcast is expected to deliver approximately 34 million viewers, and will remain TV's top-rated non-sports program of the year, despite the ratings slump.

Last year's show brought in the smallest audience in six years (37.26 million) and a seven-year low in the 18-49 demo (11.0 rating/29 share), a sharp decline from its high ratings of 2014 with Ellen DeGeneres as host (43.74 million, 13.1/33 in the demo).

The 88th ACADEMY AWARDS aired Sunday, February 28, 2016, from the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood. The Oscar presentation was also televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. Click here for a complete list of winners

Photo credit: Rick Rowell/ABC

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