The Academy Looking to Shop The Oscars to Other Networks
ABC has hosted the Oscars for nearly 5 decades.
The exclusive negotiating window between the Oscars and ABC has lapsed, prompting the academy to shop Hollywood’s Biggest Night to other networks.
What’s Happening:
- As the 2025 Oscars season comes to a close, Deadline reports that the popular award ceremony is looking ahead to 2029 as they begin to explore other network options beyond ABC.
- ABC has been a long term broadcaster for the Academy Awards, however, the exclusive negotiating timeline between the network and the Academy has lapsed.
- It is expected the Oscars will soon be shopped to other networks after their deal with the Disney-owned network ends.
- Both parties have declined to comment on the news.
- According to insiders, a license-fee increase by the Academy has been the main factor the pair has been unable to exit the negotiations period without a deal.
- Back in 2016, ABC announced an 8-year extension to their current deal three and half years before its expiration.
- Ending in 2028, ABC pays around $100 million a year for the show. Viewership for the ceremony sat at a healthy 19.5 million. However, these numbers only equate to about half of what the Oscars received during the 90s, 00s, and 10s.
- For the first time ever, the Oscars embraced a live-streaming simulcast on Hulu this year.
- The Oscars have been on ABC since 1976, with several ceremonies prior to that hosted by the network as well.
- However, the pair have butted heads throughout the years, including the networks attempt to refocus the ceremony on popular categories, removing others from the live-cast all together.
- Earlier this year, the Grammys met a similar fate with CBS after more than 50 years on the platform. The Recording Academy eventually landed with Disney in a $70 million a year deal.
- Apparently, Disney is open to retaining the ceremony if the Academy’s higher fees are not met by other networks.
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