The Friday File: Last year, the Oscars were viewed by 26.5 million persons, the lowest viewership total this century. Since 2001, viewership peaked in 2014 at 43.7 million. That year capped a 14-year run where viewership averaged 39.5 million. It’s averaged 32.8 million since, with 2018 and 2017 having the lowest and third lowest viewership level in decades. The all-time viewership high was “Titanic” 1998, when 57.3 million tuned in.