Ah, the conclusion of Oscar season. The anticipation and mystery build as Hollywood's most glamorous evening approaches. However, even the most enthusiastic accolades show that enthusiasts acknowledge that the season is overstaying its welcome. For all its efforts at cool, broadcast television faces declining viewership and criticism for being out of touch with reality. If the venerable institution wants to remain relevant, strategic reform is crucial to its rejuvenation.
Here's a blueprint for injecting new vitality into the Golden Party. The goal is simple: dream big, then dream bigger.
Move to February
The Oscars marathon could use a sprint. Amid a surplus of award shows, the final half of the season continues. As one veteran publicist told Variety: “The timing of the Oscars is only one issue. The endless number of ceremonies, each expecting talent, with the same speeches, wastes time, resources and patience. By Oscar night, the sense of mystery is gone.”
Scheduling the date early can reignite the magic, ensuring the Oscars are the high point of the season rather than the stressful end. Don't worry about the upcoming Super Bowl or Winter Olympics. Just give a good presentation.
Simultaneous broadcast on broadcast and live broadcast
As content distribution evolves, streaming services and movie theaters are finding ways to coexist. The Oscars and its longtime partner ABC need to adapt. And with a contract that runs until 2028, exploring a simulcast option is essential to keep the party going. Imagine combining ABC's reach with Hulu's 55 million subscribers and Disney+'s 155 million subscribers. The simulcast will not only attract a global audience, but will also create the image of the Oscars as an accessible, must-see event. And yes, there is still a huge opportunity for advertising.
Thrilling impossible mission
Basic
Adding new and more comprehensive categories
The excitement about the arrival of a top draft pick in 2026 is palpable, but there is potential for further expansion. The Stunts and Voice Acting/Motion Capture categories will give recognition to animation and films such as “Planet of the Apes.” The documentary film sector is going through a golden age. This requires an expanded nomination process and increased category slots to accommodate the significant increase in applications.
As for international films, it is time to honor their directors. This year, for example, the UK film “The Zone of Interest” received an award, but director Jonathan Glazer was not officially recognized. Furthermore, adjusting nomination eligibility across all categories would correct long-standing errors (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was nominated for animated feature film, but one of its directors, Joaquim dos Santos, was not among the those included due to an arbitrary rule limiting the number of nominees) and celebrate a more diverse range of achievements.
Simplify presentation
The proposal in 2022 to move eight categories of television broadcasting was met with strong opposition. But it should be noted that not all EGOT groups present every award during the main ceremony. Pre-television events, with some speeches included in the show, are a model worth considering. Die-hard movie fans can have the option to watch the full version directly or afterwards.
Let's be clear: for an avid fan like me, a captivating party can last as long as they want. However, the average viewer would prefer a more concise presentation. With 23 categories and five musical performances, cramming everything into three hours is quite a challenge.
This brings us to a sensitive topic: short film categories. While these are crucial to budding filmmakers, they serve two main purposes for uninitiated viewers: winning over office groups and signaling bathroom breaks. Since these films are not widely available for pre- or post-screening, they may be better shown during the Governors Awards, or a new Creative Arts-style ceremony developed by ABC.
Closing the season, take a look at diverse Blind awards circuit predictions for next year.
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