The television network Globo experienced a notable decrease in viewership during its airing of the samba school parade featuring the Acadêmicos de Niterói, which honored Brazilian President Lula. The broadcast achieved 26% fewer viewers than the average for that time slot in São Paulo. This decline came as a surprise, particularly given the prominence of the event during Brazil's Carnaval season, which typically garners high audience engagement.

In addition to the poor performance of the Globo broadcast, the channel faced stiff competition from Record TV, which was airing the final matches of the Campeonato Paulista football championship simultaneously. This competition may have contributed to Globo's reduced audience figures, raising questions about the network's programming strategy and audience preferences during major cultural events.

The decision by Globo to adopt a more subdued and non-controversial approach during the coverage, particularly when addressing themes associated with President Lula, may have further impacted viewer engagement. As networks continue to navigate the balance between sensational content and audience ratings, the results from this Carnaval display a challenging landscape for traditional media in Brazil.