Nielsen’s list of the most-watched Oscar broadcasts since 1974:

RANK
DATE
NETWORK
BEST FILM
# OF VIEWERS P2+(MILLIONS)

1
3/23/1998
ABC
Titanic
55.2

2
4/11/1983
ABC
Gandhi
53.2

3
4/14/1980
ABC
Kramer vs. Kramer
49.0

4
4/3/1978
ABC
Annie Hall
48.5

5
3/27/1995
ABC
Forrest Gump
48.3

6
4/8/1975
NBC
GodfatherPart II
48.1

7
3/29/1976
ABC
One… Cuckoo’s Nest
46.8

8
3/26/2000
ABC
American Beauty
46.3

9
4/9/1979
ABC
Deer Hunter
46.3

10
3/29/1982
ABC
Chariots of Fire
46.2

source: The Nielsen Company (2009)

Movie buzz is up following the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and the nominations for the Academy Awards, but in recent years viewership for many award shows (including the Oscars) has actually been declining. Is it the host? The length of the broadcast? Or does it have something to do with the movies themselves?
According to a recent study by Nielsen Preview, viewership of the Academy Awards is directly impacted by the box office draw of the best picture nominees and the popularity of the host.
During the 2004 Academy Awards (hosted by …