The Kennedy Center recently defended the ratings for its 2025 Honors, which saw the lowest viewership in its history. The event was hosted by Donald Trump.
According to Roma Daravi, the center’s VP of Public Relations, comparing this year’s ratings to past years is misleading and shows a bias. “The program did well across key demographics and platforms even with challenges like airing on a Tuesday just before Christmas,” she explained.
Nielsen reported that the 2025 Honors averaged 4.1 million viewers, a drop of 26% from the previous year. However, it’s important to note that Nielsen has changed its measurement method, now using a combination of traditional panel data and information from smart TVs and set-top boxes. This shift can impact ratings comparisons.
The 2024 show aired on a Sunday after an NFL game, which likely boosted its numbers. Despite the drop, Daravi highlighted that overall TV viewership is down about 20%. Still, the 2025 Honors tied for the top spot among viewers aged 25 to 54, alongside a live NBA game. Social media buzz was significant, with 1.5 billion impressions on the night of the event, a massive increase from just 50 million the year before.
The ceremony honored notable names like Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and George Strait. Before the show, Trump predicted it would have record-breaking viewership. “We’ve never had a president host these awards before. This is a first,” he commented, confident in a positive reception.
Historically, television ratings have been influenced by numerous factors, including competition from sports programming and changing viewer habits. With fewer people watching traditional TV, events like these face uphill battles in attracting audiences.
In summary, while the viewership numbers may seem alarming, the context reveals a more complex picture. Factors like changes in viewing habits and methods of measurement play critical roles in how we interpret these ratings.
Source link
Kennedy Center,Kennedy Center Honors
