TW Newsdesk, March 14: The Academy Awards telecast attracted roughly 18.7 million U.S. television viewers to the film industry’s highest honours, according to data released by Walt Disney Co broadcaster on March 13.

The audience surged by 12% from last year, when 16.7 million people tuned in, reports stated. At that show, Will Smith have slapped presenter Chris Rock before winning the best actor award.