What should have been one of the most glamorous nights in global entertainment quickly turned into a frustrating experience for thousands of viewers.
The 98th Academy Awards aired live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night, bringing together the biggest names in Hollywood to celebrate the year’s best films.
But for viewers watching the ceremony in the UK on ITV, the night got off to a chaotic start.
Within minutes of the broadcast beginning, social media began filling with complaints about shocking sound issues that many viewers said made the show almost impossible to watch.
Audiences reported hearing strange squeaks, distorted audio, and what some described as “horrid bleeping noises” interrupting the coverage.
Frustrated fans quickly took to X and other platforms to vent their anger.
One viewer wrote:
“Please sort out the sound for the Oscars coverage — it’s basically unwatchable!”
Another complained:
“Thought it was only me. The sound is awful.”
Some viewers even joked that the audio sounded as though it was “being filtered through a thick sock.”
The criticism spread rapidly as more viewers tuned in and noticed the same problems.
Many questioned how such a high-profile broadcast could suffer from such obvious technical issues.
The Oscars coverage on ITV was hosted by Jonathan Ross, who returned to lead the UK broadcast alongside Elle Osili Wood, actor Samson Kayo, and comedian Fred Asquith.
Despite the rocky start, ITV technicians eventually resolved the sound problems, allowing the ceremony to continue normally.
But the damage had already been done.
Clips of the malfunctioning broadcast quickly circulated online, fueling further criticism.
Meanwhile, the ceremony itself continued in Los Angeles with comedian Conan O’Brien hosting for the second consecutive year.
The film One Battle After Another ultimately took home the award for Best Picture, while Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners.
Yet for many ITV viewers, the biggest story of the night wasn’t the awards.
It was the sound disaster that nearly ruined Hollywood’s biggest celebration.
