Golden Globes ratings fall to record low with 6.9 million viewers

The Golden Globes were viewed by just 6.9 million people this year, compared to 18.3 million in 2020, according to final ratings from Nielsen.

Why it matters: It's not just a historic low for the Globes. The ratings slump means Sunday's virtual event was one of the worst-performing awards shows in recent history.

The big picture: Viewership for live TV events, including other award shows, has plummeted during the pandemic.

• The audience for the Emmys in September dropped 11% year-over-year to just 6.1 million viewers, another record low.
• Last year, even before the pandemic-driven shutdowns, Academy Award viewership fell to a record low of 26.3 million viewers.
• The Grammy Awards hit a new low later that month in the key 18-49 advertising demographic.

Be smart: The Golden Globes typically serves as a litmus test for how ratings will fare for the remainder of the year. So far, 2021 ratings are a bad indicator for the Oscars, set to air in March, with the Emmys and Grammys later this year.

Yes, but: The show was full of awkward moments, which may have turned some viewers off. The pandemic has also upended the production schedules of Hollywood's biggest studios, reducing the number of hits that were able to debut last year.

Go deeper: Hollywood's big award shows are in trouble