Four Ways to Improve Oscar Season

The Academy Awards are getting better, but they need to dream bigger

Ah, the conclusion of Oscar season. The anticipation and mystery build as Hollywood’s most glamorous evening approaches. Yet even the most ardent awards show enthusiasts concede that the season overstays its welcome. Despite all its efforts at splendor, the telecast faces declining viewership and criticism for being out of touch. If the venerable institution wants to stay relevant, a strategic overhaul is crucial to its rejuvenation.

Here’s a blueprint for injecting new vigor into the golden ceremony. The goal is simple: Dream big, and then dream even bigger.

Move to February

The Oscar marathon could use a sprint. Amid an excess of awards shows, the latter half of the season drags on. As one seasoned publicist said to Variety, “The Oscars’ timing is but one issue. The relentless number of ceremonies, each expecting the presence of talent, with the same speeches, wastes time, resources and patience. By Oscar night, the sense of mystery is gone.”

Setting the date sooner could rekindle the magic, ensuring the Oscars are the pinnacle of the season rather than its weary conclusion. Don’t worry about the Super Bowl or the upcoming Winter Olympics. Just put on a good show.

Simulcast on broadcast and streaming

As content distribution evolves, streaming services and movie theaters are finding ways to coexist. The Oscars and partner ABC need to adapt. With a contract that runs through 2028, exploring a simulcast option is essential for the ceremony’s longevity. Imagine combining ABC’S reach with Hulu’s 55 million subscribers and Disney+’s 155 million. Simulcasting would not only appeal to a global audience but also create the image of the Oscars as an accessible, must-watch event. And yes, there’s still ample opportunity for advertising.

Add new and more inclusive categories

The excitement for the best casting category arriving in 2026 is palpable, but there’s potential for further expansion. Categories for stunts and voice acting/motion capture would give recognition to animation and films like “Planet of the Apes.” And the documentary sector is undergoing a golden age. That calls for a broadened nomination process and increased category slots to accommodate the significant uptick in submissions.

As for international features, it’s time to honor their directors. This year, for example, the U.K.’S “The Zone of Interest” was awarded, but director Jonathan Glazer was not officially recognized. Furthermore, adjusting nomination eligibility across all categories would correct long-standing oversights (“Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse” was nominated for animated feature, but one of its directors, Joaquim Dos Santos, was not among those listed due to a rule limiting the number of nominees) and celebrate a wider range of achievements.

Streamline the show

The proposal in 2022 to move eight categories off the telecast met with vocal opposition. But it’s worth noting that not all EGOT groups present every award during the main ceremony. Pre-telecast events, with some speeches inserted into the show proper, is a model worth considering. And die-hard cinephiles can have the option to watch the full version live or after.

Let’s be clear: For a passionate fan like me, a captivating ceremony can go as long as it wants. However, the average viewer prefers a more concise show. As it stands, with 23 categories and five musical performances, fitting everything into three hours is proving challenging.

This brings us to a delicate topic: the short film categories. While these are crucial for emerging filmmakers, they serve two main purposes for unknowledgeable viewers — winning office pools and signaling bathroom breaks. Given that these films aren’t widely available for viewing either before or after the show, perhaps they’d be better showcased during the Governors Awards, or a new Creative Arts-style ceremony developed by ABC.

Simulcasting would not only appeal to a global audience but also create the image of the Oscars as an accessible, must-watch event.