Sunday's Oscars turned out to be the least-watched ceremony in six years. According to early Nielsen estimates, 36.6 million viewers tuned in to see Neil Patrick Harris host the awards show. It was a 16 percent decrease from last year's broadcast, which Ellen DeGeneres hosted.

The last time the numbers were this low was in 2009, when 36.3 million viewers watched "Slumdog Millionaire" walk away with Best Picture and Hugh Jackman hosted.

But the numbers are in keeping with this year's other awards shows. The Oscars had 11.3 million more viewers than the Grammys, which attracted 25.3 million people. Only 19.3 million viewers tuned into January's Golden Globes.