This year's Oscars show saw a much-needed ratings bounce over last year's all-time low with a six per cent increase in viewers.
Oscars ratings rose by six percent on last year's all-time low but still only pulled the second-smallest audience EVER with 28 million viewers
But this year's figures are still only the second-smallest audience on record, according to the Daily Mail.
Sunday's show, which did not have a host, was significantly shorter than the notoriously-longwinded shows in recent years, running for three hours and 19 minutes without any lengthy host monologues or montages.
Highlights included a touching musical performance by Best Actress nominee Lady Gaga and costar Bradley Cooper, a jubilant first win for director Spike Lee and Best Actor winner Rami Malek falling off the stage.
Green Book took home the night's top honor, Best Picture, sparking controversy among critics who thought the film offered a distorted view of history in segregation-era America.
The show's main competition during the 8pm-11.15pm EST slot was the Season 3 finale of True Detective on HBO and The Walking Dead on AMC.
Updated streaming numbers are expected to be released later on Monday.
The biggest night of awards season followed a series of missteps by the The Academy of Motion Pictures that included the ousting of host Kevin Hart, aborted plans to introduce a popular film category and an abandoned move to prevent some best song nominees from performing during the telecast.
