CTV’s broadcast of THE ACADEMY AWARDS® is the most-watched entertainment program on Canadian television since 2004 with 5.9 million viewers (5,889,000) tuning in to the star-studded spectacle last night. Up 32% over last year’s broadcast (4.47 million), THE 82nd ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS® becomes CTV’s second most-watched Oscars broadcast on record, delivering the most viewers since Titanic won Best Picture in 1998. The broadcast peaked at 7.7 million viewers at 10 p.m. ET.
More than 56% of English viewers watching television last night were watching the OSCARS throughout the three-hour-and-35-minute broadcast, while 14.7 million Canadians watched some part (or all) of the show. With 10 films battling it out in the Best Picture category, Canadians stayed with the OSCARS to the very end, with 5.2 million tuning into the last half-hour to see The Hurt Locker win over Avatar for Best Picture just before midnight.
During the broadcast, the world premiere of “The Heart,” a two-and-a-half minute short film commissioned by Becel and produced in association with CTV and Bravo!FACT, was watched by 5.3 million viewers at 9:25 p.m. Designed to inspire Canadian women to love and take care of their hearts, the film was commissioned by Becel in its role as a proud founding sponsor of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s The Heart Truth campaign.
At 6:30 p.m. ET, 1.25 million viewers started their Oscar night with Canada’s official red carpet pre-show, ETALK AT THE OSCARS, on CTV, /A\ and Star! From the coveted second position beside host broadcaster ABC – and the only Canadian broadcaster on the red carpet – CTV’s Ben Mulroney interviewed a plethora of Hollywood’s hottest stars and nominees. Among the many luminaries interviewed by Mulroney: Oscar nominees James Cameron, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Gabourey Sidibe, Matt Damon, Kathryn Bigelow, and Mo’Nique along with Tina Fey, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Zac Efron, Ryan Reynolds, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among others.
CTV.ca’s inaugural multiple live blogging session with ETALK’s gossip maven Lainey, ETALK’s fashion guru Susie Wall and comedian and MuchMusic’s resident trash-talker Trevor Boris garnered an impressive response. Over 6,400 readers dropped in to catch their colourful commentary and hilarious observations. Tonight’s episode of ETALK at 7 p.m. ET on CTV provides a round-up of all the stories and gossip, including exclusive coverage from inside Elton John’s Oscar party.
Before the OSCARS broadcast, 1.45 million viewers watched a new, out-of-simulcast episode of THE AMAZING RACE at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, delivering more viewers than THE BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL (ABC/Global, 1.27 million). Then at 8 p.m. ET, 3.68 million watched the official arrivals show OSCARS RED CARPET 2010 on CTV.
