Awards
War pummels Oscar ratings to lowest ever in US
MUMBAI: If there was no Lagaan to draw in those extra viewers in India, in the US, the 75th anniversary edition of the Academy Awards entered the record books on Monday as the least watched Oscar telecast ever. Gratis the US-led invasion of Iraq.
In India, Star Movies had undertaken some aggressive promotions to ensure that the Oscars generate interest amongst the audiences despite the fact that the country’s entry this year, Devdas, unlike Lagaan last year, failed to get a nomination. This month has seen a Oscar-winning movie showcased every night in the lead-up to the big event.
In the US, though it was a damp squib. According to figures from Nielsen Media Research, ABC’s three-and-a-half hour live broadcast of the ceremony, garnered a household rating of 20.4, the lowest level going back to the very first televised Oscar show in 1953, states a Reuters report.
The Nielsen score for the Oscars was down nearly 20 per cent from last year’s previous all-time low, a 25.4 rating. Each rating point equals 1 per cent of the estimated 106.7 million US homes with television sets.
Also, the Oscar telecast hosted by comedian Steve Martin drew an average audience of 33.05 million, the smallest for the Oscars since 1974, the first year for which average audience figures are available.
However highlighting the brighter side, ABC estimates that 62 million US viewers tuned in for some portion of the show, which still ranks as the highest-rated entertainment special of the year. NBC’s Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast in September averaged 20 million viewers, and CBS’ Grammy telecast drew 24.8 million, both lower than the Oscars, adds the report.
Another reason attributed to the lacklustre TRPs for the Oscars is the curtailment of pre-show festivities, including the traditional red-carpet arrival of the stars. Elimination of the celebrity walk-up may have been particularly damaging to female viewership of the Oscars as the fashion spectacle is widely regarded as the Super Bowl of women’s programming.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
