ITV has taken over from Sky as the new home of the Oscars ceremony in the United Kingdom. This transition comes as a feature of a multi-year deal with Disney Entertainment, marking a significant change in the landscape of Oscar broadcasting in the UK.
The 96th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 10, 2024, will be broadcast live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to living rooms across the UK through ITV1 and ITVX.
This thrilling improvement not just brings new platform for the Oscars yet in addition implies ITV’s obligation to film and its growing streaming service, ITVX.
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For the beyond twenty years, the Oscars tracked down their home in the UK on Sky, one of the biggest compensation television administrators. This longstanding partnership had become a tradition for UK viewers, making the transition to ITV a significant shift in the broadcasting landscape.
The change in broadcasters comes in the midst of fluctuating TV ratings for the Oscars, mirroring the trend observed in the United States.
Sky’s live coverage of the Oscars ceremony, which typically starts at 2:00 AM in the UK due to the time difference with Los Angeles, averaged 95,000 viewers for the 2023 event.
The subsequent highlights show attracted in 141,000 watchers. These figures reflect the challenges faced by the Oscars telecast, as it navigates a changing media landscape and shifting viewing habits.
Rather than Sky, ITV considers this to be an open door to exhibit the prestigious awards but also promote its growing streaming platform, ITVX. Since its rebranding from ITV Hub in 2022, ITVX has become a hub for film enthusiasts, offering access to a vast collection of over 250 feature films.
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By securing the rights to broadcast the Oscars, ITV aims to provide a comprehensive cinematic experience to its viewers while reinforcing its commitment to the world of cinema. The partnership among ITV and Disney Entertainment denotes the start of a new era for the Oscars in the UK.
This multi-year agreement ensures that future Oscars ceremonies will be available across ITV platforms and programming, including ITV1 and ITVX, as well as ITVX social channels and news and magazine shows. It’s a testament to ITV’s dedication to delivering world-class entertainment to its audience.
Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Chief for ITV and ITVX, communicated his energy about the new association: “We are thrilled to be able to exclusively bring the Oscars to film fans all across the UK, furthering and complementing our commitment to films across our network. We already have a fantastic collection of over 250 feature films available on ITVX at any one time and are looking forward to sharing the movie-event of the year with our viewers.”
Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, shared his excitement about the collaboration with ITV: “We could not be happier to partner with ITV in bringing the Oscars to viewers throughout the UK. The Oscars is a celebration of global cinema recognizing films and film artists from around the world. ITV’s support of our international awards show is a testament to its deep devotion to the movies.”
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The Oscars have forever been a prestigious event that celebrates the finest achievements in the world of film. From recognizing outstanding performances to applauding remarkable filmmaking, the Oscars serve as a global platform for showcasing the magic of cinema.
The 2023 Oscars, which were streamed live in the UK on Sky, saw the science fiction epic film “Everything Everywhere All At Once” dominate the ceremony, securing awards in several major categories.
The film not only took home the coveted Best Picture award but also earned Oscars for its stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The directing duo behind the film, known as the Daniels, also received recognition for their outstanding work.
This remarkable sweep by “Everything Everywhere All At Once” highlighted the diversity and creativity within the film industry, making it a fitting symbol of the global appeal of the Oscars.
With ITV now at the helm of Oscar broadcasting in the UK, viewers can anticipate more unforgettable moments and cinematic excellence in the years to come.
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