It’s Oscar time again, but it’s possible that fewer people than ever before will tune in to the Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday.

The reason is in the numbers — box-office numbers, that is. This year’s slate of best-picture nominees has one of the lowest collective box-office sales of any Oscar season, including for 2007, when the Oscars had their smallest audience share of all time.

That could mean lower revenue for Walt Disney Co’s ABC Network, which is broadcasting the Oscars again this year, regarded as the second-biggest television event next to the Super Bowl. The network reportedly is charging $1.4 million to $1.7 million for a 30-second spot, down from last year’s average of $1.82 million.

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