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Oscar ratings sink like a Rock
MUMBAI: Is awards show fatigue setting in in the US? Data for the most important awards show in film The Oscar Awards which took place on 28 February points a clear finger in that direction.
Preliminary ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research indicate that about 41.5 million people tuned into ABC to watch the show. Last year 43.5 million watched The Lord Of The Rings dominate. In India the show aired on Star Movies.
The Academy had roped in comedian Chris Rock to host the show in a bid to attract the younger audience that advertisers target. However there was no getting away from the fact that none of the movies that were up for best picture including the winner Million Dollar Baby made anywhere near as much as what LOTR grossed. In fact LOTR made more than the five films put together. That would mean that viewers had less stake in watching and being interested in who won.
The reduction in the Oscar ratings followed a similar performance for The Golden Globes and Grammy Awards. Advertisers had shelled out an average $1.6 million per 30-second spot this year for The Oscars. Reports indicate that they are still willing to pay despite the gradual ratings decline. That is because in an increasingly fragmented television market guaranteed mass viewership is becoming more difficult.
On a more positive note the Oscars only suffered a five per cent decline in viewership this year. The Golden Globes this year suffered a huge 40 per cent drop. The Grammys posted its worst showing in a decade. An estimated 18.8 million, or 28 per cent less, tuned in. Last year The Emmys for the US television industry had got its smallest audience since 1990.
Star Movies signs deal with Firstnet: Meanwhile Star has announced that it has signed a deal with Firstnet which is a part of the Midle East pay TV platform Arab Digital Distribution (Add). Firstnet will air the Oscars in the UAE on 2 March.:
Jamie Foxx’s win ranks as top Tivo moment: One of the highlights of the Oscars was Jamie Foxx’s emotional acceptance speech after winning Best Actor for Ray. This was the top Tivo moment of the Oscar broadcast according to personal video recorder maker TiVo analysis. In his speech, Foxx gave a heartfelt tribute to his grandmother saying “She still talks to me, only now she talks to me in my dreams. I can’t wait to go to sleep tonight.”
The second most popular TiVo moment of the evening was Million Dollar Baby winning best picture. TiVo’s audience measurement analysis is based on aggregated data from a sample of 10,000 anonymous TiVo households. TiVo viewership information gauges viewer interest in programming content by measuring the percentage of the TiVo
audience who are watching in “Play” speed.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
