Oscars Get Best Ratings In 5 Years

Around 41.3 million people in the US alone tuned in to watch the Oscars on Sunday night, which is a 14% increase on last year, making it the most viewed Awards in five years. 

The 82nd Academy Awards broadcasted on ABC, saw a surge in viewing figures which some have attributed to the battle of the exes going on between Kahtryn Bigelow's Hurt Locker and James Cameron's epic Avatar. 

Advertisers paid ABC an average of $1.4m (£935,000) for a 30-second slot, up from $990,000 that commercials were sold for in the 2009 awards, the Los Angles Times reported.