ABC plans on airing the Oscars on Feb. 28, 2016. The following two shows are Feb. 26, 2017, and March 4, 2018, noted a release. The last time it was held in March was because NBC was showing the Olympics and they did not want to compete.
The shows will once again take place at Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center, located in Hollywood.
They will still have to find new producers, as it was announced recently that three-time producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will not be coming back. To some that may have been a surprise, but to others, a three-year stint is fine and dandy.
The show in February show a decline of viewers with its 36.6 million viewers (in the first report) with host Neil Patrick Harris. The final figures were 37.26 million viewers, noted Nielsen. The 2014 show with Ellen DeGeneres as host show 43.17 million viewers. With numbers like that, there is not buzz about ABC giving it up, but one never knows. The Super Bowl rotates, but the NFL is in a league of its own.
Even when the Oscars go low like it did in 2014, it rarely is not the highest-rated entertainment show of the year. This year that will happen, too, despite the low numbers. They are low for Oscars, a special event show. They are not low for TV. Nothing matches the Super Bowl, but for entertainment, it is the Oscars.
Now, moving it to Mondays could be in the books, too, at some later date. It was on Monday for many years and the numbers were much higher, but the way in which people watch TV has changed. It was moved to Sundays to avoid the NCAA tournament. However, that was when the Oscars were usually held in the middle or late March.
Meanwhile, The Wrap reported that at the next meeting of the Academy, the discussion of returning the best picture category back to five. Right now the category can have up to ten.
Setting it back to five makes some sense and adds more drama. When the director category is announced, it is often assumed that those and best picture coincide with each other. So, after the five director nominations are announced, they are thought of as the films going forward as the ones having the best chance at the top prize. Thus, having more than five in the best picture category doesn’t really make sense. It hasn’t added to the viewership.
Now, adding a blockbuster now and then to the top category would, however. Looking back, having “Guardians of the Galaxy” up for best picture would not have tarnished the awards at all because it was a superb film, all away around.
Dates
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015: The Governors Awards
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015: Nominations voting opens 8 a.m. PT
Friday, Jan. 8, 2016: Nominations voting closes 5 p.m. PT
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016: Oscar Nominations Announcement
Monday, Feb. 8, 2016: Oscar Nominees Luncheon
Friday, Feb. 12, 2016: Final voting opens 8 a.m. PT
Saturday, Feb.13, 2016: Scientific and Technical Awards
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016: Final voting closes 5 p.m. PT
Oscar Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016: 88th Academy Awards begins 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT
