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Golden Globes Viewership Slips to 8.7 Million, Continuing Downward Trend
The 2024 Golden Globe Awards ceremony drew 8.7 million viewers on Sunday night, representing a nearly 7% decline from last year’s broadcast, according to Nielsen ratings data released Monday.
The CBS telecast, fronted by comedian Nikki Glaser, failed to match the viewership numbers from the network’s previous two Golden Globe broadcasts. When CBS first acquired the rights to the award show, it attracted 9.4 million viewers, while last year’s ceremony, also hosted by Glaser, pulled in 9.3 million.
This ratings dip comes despite CBS and the Golden Globes organization having signed a five-year broadcast agreement in 2024, solidifying their partnership after the ceremony’s departure from NBC. The awards show changed hands following a widely publicized diversity and ethics scandal that prompted NBC to drop the broadcast. Subsequently, the Golden Globes were acquired by Dick Clark Productions, owned by Penske Media, and Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries.
The ceremony’s current viewership numbers stand in stark contrast to its performance during the late 2010s, when the Golden Globes regularly commanded audiences approaching 20 million viewers. This decline reflects broader challenges facing traditional award shows in the streaming era.
Sunday’s ceremony, which saw “One Battle After Another” and “Hamnet” taking top honors, faced stiff competition from NBC’s telecast of the Chargers-Patriots NFL playoff game. The football matchup dominated the night’s ratings with an average of 28.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.
Despite the television ratings decline, CBS highlighted positive metrics in digital engagement. The network characterized this year’s Golden Globes as the “most social ever,” reporting 42 million interactions across platforms, representing a 5% increase from the previous year, according to Social Content Ratings. Glaser’s opening monologue proved particularly popular online, attracting more than 14 million views across Golden Globes social media channels within the first 36 hours.
The Golden Globes’ ratings struggles reflect a broader industry trend affecting award shows. Major ceremonies including the Oscars and Emmys have experienced significant viewership erosion in recent years as audience fragmentation continues across streaming platforms and traditional television.
In related corporate news, CBS parent company Paramount Skydance filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and its chief executive David Zaslav on Monday. The legal action is part of Paramount’s ongoing hostile takeover attempt for the studio. Warner Bros. Discovery’s board recently rejected Paramount’s offer, stating it does not serve the best interests of the company or its shareholders. Instead, the board has recommended that shareholders support a proposed deal with Netflix.
The Golden Globes, once considered a reliable predictor for Oscar success and a marquee event in Hollywood’s awards season, continues to work on rebuilding its reputation following controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that previously ran the awards. The ceremony’s format changes and new ownership structure represent attempts to modernize the broadcast and recapture audience interest amid shifting media consumption habits.
Industry analysts note that award shows may need to further evolve their formats and distribution strategies to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape dominated by streaming services and social media platforms.
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8 Comments
The 7% dip in Golden Globes viewership is a bit worrying, especially since the show just signed a new broadcast deal. I wonder if the diversity issues of the past are still weighing on public perception, or if there are other factors at play. It will be interesting to see what the organizers do to try to turn things around.
While the 7% decline in Golden Globes viewership is notable, I’m not too surprised. Awards shows have been struggling to maintain relevance in recent years, with audiences growing increasingly fragmented. It will be interesting to see what the new organizers do to try to reinvigorate interest in the ceremony.
The dip in Golden Globes viewership is concerning, but not entirely unexpected given the recent scandals and changes in the industry. Awards shows are having a tough time maintaining relevance these days, so the organizers will need to get creative to win back audiences. Hopefully they can find a way to make the show feel fresh and compelling again.
Interesting to see the Golden Globes viewership continuing its downward trend. Seems like the diversity and ethics scandal a few years back really took a toll on its popularity. I wonder what the organizers can do to win back viewers in the coming years.
The declining viewership for the Golden Globes is a bit concerning, especially given the recent broadcast deal. It’ll be important for the organizers to analyze what’s driving this trend and find ways to re-engage audiences. Perhaps a refresh of the format or bringing in new hosting talent could help boost interest.
While the declining Golden Globes viewership is notable, I’m not too surprised given the recent scandals and changes in ownership/broadcasting. Awards shows in general seem to be struggling to maintain relevance these days. It’ll be up to the organizers to find ways to reinvigorate audience interest.
The drop in Golden Globes viewership is concerning, but not entirely unexpected given the recent turmoil. It will be critical for the new owners and broadcast partners to really rethink the format and marketing to win back audiences. Getting the right host and fresh creative approach could be key.
I’m curious to see if the Golden Globes can reverse this downward ratings trajectory. With the shift to a new network and ownership, they may have an opportunity to reinvent the show and appeal to a broader audience. But it will take some creative thinking to stand out in an increasingly crowded awards season.