Golden Globes fail to attract more than 10 million viewers again
- The 82nd Golden Globes ceremony achieved an average viewership of 10.1 million, a significant increase from 2023.
- The awards returned to CBS after being dropped from television due to scandals involving the HFPA.
- This year's event was viewed as a success, showcasing improved ratings and a fresh approach with host Nikki Glaser.
In the United States, the 82nd Golden Globes ceremony, held on January 7, 2025, achieved an impressive average viewership of 10.1 million across CBS and Paramount+. This figure represents a notable 7 percent increase from the previous year's audience of 9.4 million, which was reported via Nielsen. The 2024 broadcast marked a return for the awards after being mired in controversy and boycotts due to lack of diversity among its voting members in the preceding years. The previous Golden Globes, which aired on NBC in 2023, faced intense scrutiny and were ultimately dropped from television due to a scandal that originated from a 2022 exposé by the Los Angeles Times revealing the absence of Black members in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The HFPA fell under scrutiny, leading to Hollywood's widespread boycott of the awards and the eventual cancellation of that year’s ceremony on television. The fallout from the scandal also saw the organization reorganized and eventually sold to Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions. With CBS taking over the rights in 2024, elements of the show were met with mixed reactions, including criticism towards the Jo Koy-hosted ceremony, described by many as chaotic. This year's event, now hosted by Nikki Glaser, received favorable reviews and showcased a commitment to improving the show’s image. Glaser made history as the first woman to host the awards solo and engaged the audience with her humorous remarks. The ceremony's timing was coincidental as it aired simultaneously with a high-profile NFL game, yet still managed to attract a robust viewership. The awards celebrated significant achievements in both film and television, with standout titles including the Netflix musical 'Emilia Perez' and the A24 film ‘The Brutalist,’ which garnered multiple accolades. The FX series ‘Shogun’ won four awards in the television categories, further illustrating the evolving landscape of media recognition in Hollywood. Although the ceremony struggled in previous years due to scandals and declining viewership, the continuity of CBS’s commitment to the Globes indicates a promising path forward for this storied awards program.