The Academy Awards on CTV drew a slightly smaller audience than last year’s, and the total reach among Canadians fell by almost a million. But the Sunday night gala still rules as the most-watched television event in Canada.

The audience peaked at nearly six million viewers and reached a total of 10.6 million. At the end of the night, the average audience measured 4.9 million nationwide — 1.3 million more than Global’s Super Bowl Sunday earlier this month. In Toronto, the Oscars posted a staggering 50 share among total viewers.

The Oscars averaged 5.1 million on CTV last year, peaked at six million, and recorded a total reach of 11.5 million.

CTV’s red carpet arrivals special, eTalk at The Oscars, attracted 812,000 viewers, while the 8 p.m. special Road to the Oscars was the second most-watched program of the night, with 3.2 million.

Earlier, the annual Barbara Walters special attracted 2.2 million viewers at 7 p.m. ET. On Saturday night, 918,000 viewers watched the first-ever Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special, simulcast on CTV.

From Media in Canada