The Oscars has had its fair share of troubles over the years. Marred by scandals, controversies, and outrage, the public platform that singles out the greatest talents among a bevy of creative projects has not been able to keep up with modern times. One of the key factors that still plague the Academy Awards is its dwindling viewership and as a result, they have been looking to expand to streaming from 2023.
The Oscars Are Considering Going Live From 2023
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO, Bill Kramer, and President, Janet Yang, have been faced with the issue of making a radical call about the future of the Oscars. With an increasingly flailing viewership, the award ceremony wouldn’t have been able to stay relevant in the coming era of instant mass media and live-streaming culture. Moreover, the continual backlash about the whitewashing conducted at the Academy has haunted the plunging reputation of the Oscars.
The 95th Academy Awards which will take place in March 2023 has now become a project looking to boost the audience viewership traffic by switching up the event from ABC to live-streaming. The ceremony had been a staple of the television broadcasting network. However, the recent troubles spurred Kramer and Yang into action with them promising “a need to reinvigorate the show” by focusing on a more gala red carpet pre-event ceremony and honoring the worthy craft winners. Among the plans to boost viewers is their new approach to “exploring extensions of the show on streaming,” which promises a step out of the comforts of the Oscars’ televised status.
Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner Step On-Board the Oscars
The Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang recently announced in a joint statement, “We are thrilled to have Glenn and Ricky at the helm. We look forward to working closely with them, our Board of Governors and the Board’s Awards Committee to deliver an exciting and energized show.” The producer-duo has been known in the industry for having “a focus on expertise in live television event production.”
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The pair, obviously brought in to help smooth things over during the Oscars transition to streaming, have acknowledged their excitement at the prospect — “Bill made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. But he really ‘had us at hello.’” Both Weiss and Kirshner have a gallon of accolades to their names, both being veterans in the field of directing live television events. If they do end up succeeding in their endeavor, it will be an interesting change of pace and a definitive marketing leap for the Oscars when they go live in 2023.
The 95th Academy Awards will be hosted on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood
Source: Variety
