The 2022 Academy Awards ceremony's scores rose from final 12 months however nonetheless have been the second-lowest within the present's historical past, early outcomes confirmed.

Preliminary Nielsen TV scores confirmed that the Sunday evening broadcast introduced in 13.7 million viewers, up 38 % from final 12 months's preliminary outcomes, TVLine reported. That is nonetheless about 40 % lower than the 2020 occasion, in accordance with Deadline.

The outcomes come amid a gentle decline in scores for the Oscars. The scores have been falling since 2014, apart from a slight uptick in 2019, in accordance with Statista. Scores plummeted in 2021, with solely about 10 million viewers in contrast with greater than 23 million in 2020.

Some attributed the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic, which required extra restrictions than regular broadcasts would, with socially distanced seating and a few nominees showing remotely. However the low scores may additionally signify a broader dislike of Hollywood tradition, with a 2017 College of Delaware research discovering that 62 % of Individuals stated they distrusted the business.

Although the 2022 present was broadly shared on social media following an incident through which Will Smith struck Chris Rock after Rock made a joke concerning the hair of Smith's spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, the low scores persevered, with this 12 months's enhance about 10 million viewers fewer than simply two years in the past.

Oscars Ratings Rise From 2021 Low
The scores for the 2022 Oscars rose from 2021's all-time low. Above, Ariana DeBose (heart), winner of the Actress in a Supporting Position award for West Facet Story, with presenters Daniel Kaluuya (left) and H.E.R. within the press room on the 94th Annual Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, in Hollywood, California.Picture by David Livingston/Getty Photos

Nevertheless, in accordance with a report from IndieWire, the present brings in a considerable amount of promoting income regardless of the poor scores. An ABC spokesperson advised the web site that the present by no means ensures what sort of viewership ranges advertisers will obtain, and the identical utilized this 12 months. A supply advised IndieWire that some 30-second promoting slots bought for as a lot as $2.2 million this 12 months.

One other issue resulting in disinterest within the awards might be most of the people not seeing and even having heard of most of the nominated films. Knowledge from Morning Seek the advice of exhibits that solely 13 % to 27 % of customers had heard of the 2021 Greatest Image nominees earlier than that 12 months's Oscars. The determine rose to solely 16 % to 33 % after the ceremony.

There was debate over whether or not extra common films should be nominated for the present to remain related, as Dune was the one field workplace hit to be nominated for Greatest Image this 12 months, Selection reported.

Many individuals, together with actors Seth Rogen and Kevin Smith, expressed disappointment in Spiderman: No Means House not being nominated for Greatest Image this 12 months, even with the Academy increasing to 10 nominees for the class.

"I do not get why film folks care a lot if different folks care what awards we give ourselves," Rogen advised Insider. "Possibly folks simply do not care. Possibly they did for some time and so they stopped caring. And why ought to they?"

Replace 3/28/22, 2:45 p.m. ET: This story was up to date so as to add extra data and background.