From the Oscars to World cup7 Mar 2025 12:50
Disney owns the Oscars and licenses broadcasting rights to various networks around the world. In the UK, these rights switched from Sky to ITV beginning with the 96th Oscars in 2024.
As a result, ITV now broadcasts the Oscars in the UK, while Disney manages global distribution and viewing data.
For the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, ITV’s coverage in the UK peaked at 1.1 million viewers at the start of the broadcast, which ran from 10:30 PM GMT on Sunday, March 2, until 3:45 AM on Monday, March 3.
The average viewership for the event was 565,000 on ITV1, showing an 11.3% decline from the 637,000 average in 2024. However, these figures represent a significant rise from the 93,000 average in 2023 when Sky held the broadcast rights.
These figures are notably higher than those during Sky’s time, reflecting the positive reception to the Oscars’ return to free-to-air television in the UK.
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World cup:
ITV and BBC Sport have struck a significant deal to provide live coverage of the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030 across TV, audio, and digital platforms. As part of the agreement, ITV will offer extensive free-to-air coverage of live matches on its channels, including ITV1, ITV4, ITVX, STV, and STV Player. In addition, ITV Sport's social media channels will feature highlights and exclusive content. This deal is financially beneficial for ITV, as it secures exclusive broadcasting rights for major global events, potentially boosting both viewership and advertising revenue across its platforms.
Going forward, all bodes well for ITV.