In an exciting announcement, ITV has confirmed that it has become the new home of the Oscars awards ceremony in the UK. Through a multi-year deal with Disney Entertainment, ITV will have the exclusive rights to broadcast the prestigious Academy Awards, starting with the 96th edition in 2024. The ceremony will be aired live on the ITV1 network and its streaming service, ITVX.
A Change in the UK Oscars Coverage Landscape
The decision to award the broadcasting rights to ITV marks a significant shift in the UK Oscars coverage landscape. Sky, the long-time home of the awards in the UK, will be losing the rights after two decades. Although the identity of the new buyer was previously unknown, it has now been revealed that ITV will take over the responsibility of bringing the Oscars to British audiences.
A Wider Range of Platforms for Oscars Coverage
Under the new agreement, ITV will make the Oscars available across various platforms and programming, including ITV1, ITVX, ITVX social channels, and news and magazine shows. This move allows the network to reach a wider audience and provide film fans with more opportunities to engage with the Oscars.
Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Manager for ITV and ITVX, expressed his excitement about the exclusive partnership, stating, “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.”
Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration with ITV, emphasizing the international nature of the Oscars. He said, “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.”
Oscars Ratings and the British Audience
It’s worthy to note that Oscars ratings in the UK have been declining in recent years, similar to the trend observed in the United States. In 2022, nearly 60,000 viewers tuned in live for the ceremony on the main Sky Cinema channel, while only around 35,000 watched this year’s 95th ceremony. ITV will undoubtedly face the challenge of revitalizing the interest in the Oscars among the British audience.
As ITV prepares to take on the responsibility of broadcasting the Oscars in the UK, film enthusiasts have reason to be excited. With the ability to leverage its extensive network and streaming service, ITV has the opportunity to create a more engaging and immersive Oscars viewing experience for its viewers. As the movie-event of the year, the Oscars will undoubtedly be a highlight on the ITV programming calendar, attracting a wide range of film enthusiasts and industry professionals.
With the first edition of the Oscars ceremony on ITV scheduled for March 10, 2024, film fans across the UK can look forward to experiencing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s most renowned awards show from the comfort of their own homes. As ITV secures its place as the new home of the Oscars in the UK, the future of Oscars coverage in the country looks promising.
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