Advertising revenue at the Academy Awards 2002-2024

In 2024, the revenue from advertising during the 96th Academy Awards ceremony was expected to reach 120 million U.S. dollars, marking an increase from the previous year's ad revenue of 117.4 million dollars.

Telecast on Disney’s ABC network, the Academy Awards have long been a prime platform for advertisers, with the broadcast consistently standing out as one of the most-watched non-sports events on television year after year.

30-second spots get pricier

Growing Academy Awards ad revenues have gone hand in hand with an increasing average price for a 30-second commercial aired during the show. In 2024, the average spot price was forecast to add up to 2.2 million dollars – a rise from the 1.9 million being doled out five years earlier.

Viewer numbers rebounding, but far from heyday

The Oscars inventory is routinely sold out before the broadcast, a notable feat amid a general downturn for entertainment advertising on linear TV networks. As a live event, the Oscars have been able to leverage the “must-watch” appeal of their broadcast. The show has been gradually regaining viewers lost during the pandemic, with the 2024 edition bringing the highest U.S. rating in four years. However, despite the increase in viewership, the last time the broadcast drew in an American audience of more than 40 million was in 2014.