New reports suggest that ABC pressured the Academy Awards into making changes to their telecast, including adding a new award for Best Popular Film.
The Academy Awards telecast has been bleeding viewers in recent years, with the broadcast of the 2018 ceremony suffering from a 39-percent loss in viewership from the 2014 show. Disney-ABC executives have spent the last few years pushing the Academy to make some changes that they feel would potentially make the broadcast more exciting. But in light of the lackluster turnout for the 2018 ceremony, it seems like the executives got their way.
RELATED: Academy to Add Oscar Category Specifically For Popular Films
The board for the Academy voted on the changes earlier this week. Among the changes made were an earlier broadcast date (moving them from March to February), a cap to the length of the ceremony being three hours, presenting some awards during the commercial breaks and showcasing the winners in a montage during the night and, the most controversial, creating a Best Popular Film category.
Chatter from ABC executives suggests they aren’t bothered by the negative reaction the announcement received on social media. They believe people will just adjust to the changes over time.
A number of people online openly complained about the announcement, with many feeling it's a preemptive means to appease fans of blockbuster films like Black Panther while still not giving it full recognition.
(via Variety)