The first hostless Academy Awards broadcast in 30 years attracted a 12 per cent bigger US television audience to Walt Disney Co's ABC than last year's record-low viewership, the network said on Monday.

Sunday night's live telecast drew an average audience of 29.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by ABC. In 2018, the Oscars show averaged 26.5 million viewers, a record low and down from 32.9 million in 2017.

This year's ratings jump was a victory for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the show's producers, who were under pressure to expand the audience as overall TV viewership is on the decline.

The ceremony opened with a performance by rock band Queen, featuring 'American Idol'&nbsp;star Adam Lambert as lead vocalist. The show ran about 40 minutes shorter than the 2018 program and eschewed its typical opening monologue for short celebrity cameos.

Many TV critics praised the broadcast, saying the lack of a host made the show move quickly and forced the producers to think creatively about how to entertain viewers.

"I have to say it really worked," wrote Kristopher Tapley of Variety. "Who knew you didn't need a host?"

This year's ceremony relied heavily on the two music-themed contenders in the best picture race, 'A Star Is Born'&nbsp;and 'Bohemian Rhapsody,'&nbsp;to help set the tone. An intimate duet by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga of Oscar-winning song "Shallow" "was show-stopping territory," Tapley said.

"On film’s big night, it wasn’t the magic of Hollywood that saved this year’s show. It was the power of music," added Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times.

Many of the nominated movies were box-office hits, a contrast to recent years when the Oscars centred around arthouse films seen by a limited audience. Road trip movie 'Green Book'&nbsp;triumphed over 'Roma'&nbsp;to win best picture.

Not everyone liked the hostless format.

"The 2019 Oscar telecast lacked energy and comedy and was treacherously dull. And maybe that could have been avoided if the Academy had done what it has (almost) always done, and procured a host," wrote Kelly Lawler in USA Today.

Comedian Kevin Hart withdrew from the hosting job in December after past homophobic tweets resurfaced. It was only the second time the show went without a host in its 91-year history.

The Nielsen data for the Oscars does not include viewing of on digital and mobile platforms. ABC owns US broadcast rights for the Oscars through 2028.

The first hostless Academy Awards broadcast in 30 years attracted a 12 per cent bigger US television audience to Walt Disney Co's ABC than last year's record-low viewership, the network said on Monday.

The first hostless Academy Awards broadcast in 30 years attracted a 12 per cent bigger US television audience to Walt Disney Co's ABC than last year's record-low viewership, the network said on Monday. Sunday night's live telecast drew an average audience of 29.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by ABC. In 2018, the Oscars show averaged 26.5 million viewers, a record low and down from 32.9 million in 2017. This year's ratings jump was a victory for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the show's producers, who were under pressure to expand the audience as overall TV viewership is on the decline. The ceremony opened with a performance by rock band Queen, featuring 'American Idol' star Adam Lambert as lead vocalist. The show ran about 40 minutes shorter than the 2018 program and eschewed its typical opening monologue for short celebrity cameos. Many TV critics praised the broadcast, saying the lack of a host made the show move quickly and forced the producers to think creatively about how to entertain viewers. "I have to say it really worked," wrote Kristopher Tapley of Variety. "Who knew you didn't need a host?" This year's ceremony relied heavily on the two music-themed contenders in the best picture race, 'A Star Is Born' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' to help set the tone. An intimate duet by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga of Oscar-winning song "Shallow" "was show-stopping territory," Tapley said. "On film’s big night, it wasn’t the magic of Hollywood that saved this year’s show. It was the power of music," added Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times. Many of the nominated movies were box-office hits, a contrast to recent years when the Oscars centred around arthouse films seen by a limited audience. Road trip movie 'Green Book' triumphed over 'Roma' to win best picture. Not everyone liked the hostless format. "The 2019 Oscar telecast lacked energy and comedy and was treacherously dull. And maybe that could have been avoided if the Academy had done what it has (almost) always done, and procured a host," wrote Kelly Lawler in USA Today. Comedian Kevin Hart withdrew from the hosting job in December after past homophobic tweets resurfaced. It was only the second time the show went without a host in its 91-year history. The Nielsen data for the Oscars does not include viewing of on digital and mobile platforms. ABC owns US broadcast rights for the Oscars through 2028.

US TV audience for Oscars jumps, hostless show earns praise

Oscars red carpet: Jennifer Lopez, Chadwick Boseman, Rami Malek turn up the heat

As the Oscars 2019 approaches, new update reveals that the famous British rock band Queen will perform live at the awards ceremony. This, after the massive success of the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ made on the life of deceased band member Freddie Mercury, portrayed by Rami Malek. The film is among the nominees of Best Picture as well as Best Actor for Rami.&nbsp;

While making the announcement, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on its official Twitter feed: "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? We welcome @QueenWillRock and @adamlambert to this year's Oscars!"&nbsp;

Among those performing will be original members Brian May and Roger Taylor with former ‘American Idol’ star Adam Lambert taking on vocals.

In response to the honour, the band tweeted: "Queen and @adamlambert will ROCK YOU.”

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has five Academy Award nominations in total. The film chronicles the life of Freddie Mercury, his love for music, forming Queen, their rise to fame and sudden death. Freddie died of AIDS in London in 1991 at the age of 45.

As far as the music is concerned, there is no news of what songs will be performed or when they would appear on the stage during the telecast. The Oscars this year will be hostless, so it will be quite fun to watch how the night progresses or maybe not! This will be so for the first time in 30 years.&nbsp;

As the Oscars 2019 approaches, new update reveals that the famous British rock band Queen will perform live at the awards ceremony. This, after the massive success of the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ made on the life of deceased band member Freddie Mercury, portrayed by Rami Malek.

As the Oscars 2019 approaches, new update reveals that the famous British rock band Queen will perform live at the awards ceremony. This, after the massive success of the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ made on the life of deceased band member Freddie Mercury, portrayed by Rami Malek. The film is among the nominees of Best Picture as well as Best Actor for Rami. While making the announcement, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on its official Twitter feed: "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? We welcome @QueenWillRock and @adamlambert to this year's Oscars!" Among those performing will be original members Brian May and Roger Taylor with former ‘American Idol’ star Adam Lambert taking on vocals. In response to the honour, the band tweeted: "Queen and @adamlambert will ROCK YOU.” ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has five Academy Award nominations in total. The film chronicles the life of Freddie Mercury, his love for music, forming Queen, their rise to fame and sudden death. Freddie died of AIDS in London in 1991 at the age of 45. As far as the music is concerned, there is no news of what songs will be performed or when they would appear on the stage during the telecast. The Oscars this year will be hostless, so it will be quite fun to watch how the night progresses or maybe not! This will be so for the first time in 30 years.

British rock band Queen to perform live at the Oscars 2019

Oscar-nominated short film 'Detainment' is possibly one of the most controversial films nominated for an Academy Award.

The film, which reenacts the 1993 interviews of 10 year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, before they became the youngest people ever to be convicted of murder in the UK after abducting and murdering two-year-old James Bulger.

Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus, has reacted angrily on Twitter about the inclusion of the film in the Oscar race, saying "I cannot express how disgusted and upset I am at this so-called film that has been made and now nominated for an Oscar."

An online petition has also been set up to demand the Academy withdraw the film from the short film competition. The Academy responded with a press release explaining its neutrality in the choosing of the films to compete.

When asked about the controversy, director Vincent Lambe replied "It's a hugely sensitive case and I have enormous sympathy for the Bulger family. I always have. And we never meant to cause any distress by making this film but it is a difficult film, I think, to make and because there's more than one perspective on the case, we decided to not contact any of the families involved in it and we focused solely on the factual material that was available and the transcripts that have been public knowledge for 25 years."

The case continues to be headlines in the United Kingdom 25 years on because of the horrific nature of the case.

Lambe said "I've never claimed that the film has the answers as to why these two boys did it but when I started to look into it, that's what I wanted to know. I could never understand how two 10-year-old boys could commit such a horrific crime. So it doesn't have the answers but it does allow people to ask the right questions and I would hope that they would want to research it more or try to get a deeper understanding of it after they've seen it."

He added "It would be great to get the recognition from the Academy because I do think it's an important film. I think it's a film that people need to see. It shows a different perspective on the case and I hope that people will be able to watch it with an open mind and if it helps heal or give it recognition, that would be great."

The award for short live-action film won't be televised but will be given out during a commercial break.

Meanwhile, the Academy is currently facing a backlash from Hollywood over its decision&nbsp;to give <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-academy-faces-backlash-from-cuaron-del-toro-as-it-decides-to-give-techincal-oscars-during-ad-break-196991">technical Oscars during ad breaks.&nbsp;</a>

Oscar-nominated short film 'Detainment' is possibly one of the most controversial films nominated for an Academy Award. The film, which reenacts the 1993 interviews of 10 year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, before they became the youngest people ever to be convicted of murder in the UK after abducting and murdering two-year-old James Bulger.

Oscar-nominated short film 'Detainment' is possibly one of the most controversial films nominated for an Academy Award. The film, which reenacts the 1993 interviews of 10 year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, before they became the youngest people ever to be convicted of murder in the UK after abducting and murdering two-year-old James Bulger. Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus, has reacted angrily on Twitter about the inclusion of the film in the Oscar race, saying "I cannot express how disgusted and upset I am at this so-called film that has been made and now nominated for an Oscar." An online petition has also been set up to demand the Academy withdraw the film from the short film competition. The Academy responded with a press release explaining its neutrality in the choosing of the films to compete. When asked about the controversy, director Vincent Lambe replied "It's a hugely sensitive case and I have enormous sympathy for the Bulger family. I always have. And we never meant to cause any distress by making this film but it is a difficult film, I think, to make and because there's more than one perspective on the case, we decided to not contact any of the families involved in it and we focused solely on the factual material that was available and the transcripts that have been public knowledge for 25 years." The case continues to be headlines in the United Kingdom 25 years on because of the horrific nature of the case. Lambe said "I've never claimed that the film has the answers as to why these two boys did it but when I started to look into it, that's what I wanted to know. I could never understand how two 10-year-old boys could commit such a horrific crime. So it doesn't have the answers but it does allow people to ask the right questions and I would hope that they would want to research it more or try to get a deeper understanding of it after they've seen it." He added "It would be great to get the recognition from the Academy because I do think it's an important film. I think it's a film that people need to see. It shows a different perspective on the case and I hope that people will be able to watch it with an open mind and if it helps heal or give it recognition, that would be great." The award for short live-action film won't be televised but will be given out during a commercial break. Meanwhile, the Academy is currently facing a backlash from Hollywood over its decision to give technical Oscars during ad breaks.

'Detainment' director addresses controversy around Oscar nomination