Second time was the charm for host Ellen DeGeneres as 6.12 million viewers watched THE86TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS® on CTV last night, according to preliminary overnight data from BBM Canada. Up 25% since DeGeneres hosted in 2007 and up slightly from last year (6.07 million), this year’s edition of THE OSCARS® is the largest audience for an entertainment program in Canada in three years. With nearly 14 million unique viewers, half of all English Canadians watching TV last night saw the broadcast.
With nearly two million viewers in Toronto alone, THE OSCARS is the most-watched television broadcast of the year in Canada’s largest TV market, drawing more viewers than SUPER BOWL XLVIII (1.84 million) and with larger total audience rating (25.6) and share (62%). THE OSCARS also saw a bigger audience than THE SUPER BOWL in Edmonton, and was the #1 program of the day in all markets for total audience and in all key demos.
Red carpet coverage began at 7 p.m. with OSCARS RED CARPET LIVE!, drawing 3.03 million viewers.
In one of ETALK’s biggest broadcasts of the year, tonight’s (Monday, March 3) special Oscar-edition of ETALK (airing at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO) gives viewers a full recap of Hollywood’s biggest night. The ETALK team, including Ben Mulroney, Tanya Kim, Lainey Lui, Danielle McGimsie, and Jessi Cruickshank, report on location from outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, bringing viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage of the most buzzed-about after parties, backstage moments, and exclusive red carpet highlights not seen during Sunday night’s live broadcast. ETALK’s exclusive red carpet interviews include 2014 Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o and director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), and Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine); plus A-list celebrities Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Amy Adams, Michael Fassbender, Kate Hudson, Olivia Wilde, June Squibb, Naomi Watts, Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée, Jason Sudeikis, and more. Senior Reporter Danielle McGimsie also brings viewers party highlights from Elton John’s annual post-Oscar bash, featuring interviews with Elton John, Britney Spears, Steven Tyler, Eric McCormack, Neil Patrick Harris, Ed Sheeran, Mel B, and more. Canada’s #1 entertainment show also takes viewers behind the velvet rope at this year’s Governor’s Ball, Vanity Fair party, and the Film Independent Spirit Awards, before Tanya Kim and Jessi Cruickshank deliver their Hollywood run-ins with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at L.A.X. and Hollywood Boulevard, respectively. Cruickshank also breaks down the night’s best and worst fashion choices, in ETALK’s regular “Judge Jessi” series.
