Award shows now simulcast on Hulu, Paramount+, and network TV at once. That split audience is a major reason why award show ratings are declining every awards season.

Cord-cutting removed millions of linear-TV homes from Nielsen panels. Without cable bundles pushing live events, casual viewers skip entire Oscar and Grammy telecasts.

Families watch on phones, laptops, and TVs at different times now. Fragmented screens dilute same-night live numbers even when total cultural interest stays high online.

The 2026 Oscars drew 17.9 million viewers on ABC and Hulu, down nine percent from 2025. That dip mirrors six-to-seven percent drops at the Grammys and Golden Globes.

CBS carried the Grammys at 14.4 million while ABC aired the Emmys at 7.4 million in 2025. Each ceremony fights the same cord-cutting and clip-culture headwinds now.