Oscar ratings beat expectations ,Marketwatch

[caligirl]

Oscar ratings beat expectations
By Russ Britt, MarketWatch
Last Update: 4:01 PM ET Feb. 28, 2005
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LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) - Ratings for Sunday night's telecast of the 77th Annual Academy Awards slipped a bit from last year, but appeared to hold up better than expected.



An average of 41.5 million viewers tuned in to the broadcast by Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS: news, chart, profile) ABC Network to see "Million Dollar Baby" take best picture honors, the network said in a release. Clint Eastwood also took best directing honors for the film as did Hilary Swank for best actress and Morgan Freeman for best supporting actor.

The film was produced and distributed by Time Warner's (TWX: news, chart, profile) Warner Bros. Pictures.

ABC's ratings were down roughly 5 percent from the 43.5 million viewers who tuned in last year to see "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" sweep all 11 categories for which it was entered, including best picture and best director.

But it was well ahead of the 2003 ceremony, where 33 million viewers witnessed the coronation of the musical "Chicago." That was the year the U.S. had just gone to war with Iraq. And it was on par with the 41.8 million viewers who tuned in at the 2002 awards show to see "A Beautiful Mind" win it all.

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[LSparkle]

1. I'm sorry, I was bored ...

Show ended earlier than I can remember (before 9P local time). Also, no surprises (like with Polanski winning Best Director or Brody Best Actor, etc., etc.). When Scorsese lost out to Clint, I tuned out.

[gnofg]

2. Thank you

Right wing idiots for making Chris Rock an issue.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

3. GW won a Golden Raspberry...

...Award for being the worst actor in Michael Moore's Farenheit 911. But I found that out this morning. Halle Berry had some nice words for Warner Brothers for putting her in Catwoman, the worst movie of the year and winner of the..... you guessed it! The Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Film of the Year.