In a historic move, the 97th Academy Awards will be simultaneously broadcast on ABC and streamed live on Hulu on March 2, 2025, marking the first-ever streaming availability of Hollywood's premier awards show.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC announced that viewers can watch the ceremony live on Hulu starting at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with on-demand access available the following day. This groundbreaking decision addresses long-standing requests from audiences for broader access to the prestigious event.
Emmy-winning comedian Conan O'Brien will host the ceremony, making his Oscar debut. The production team includes veteran live television producer Raj Kapoor as executive producer and showrunner, alongside executive producer Katy Mullan and director Hamish Hamilton.
The expansion to Hulu's 52 million subscribers could potentially drive viewership to new heights. The 2024 ceremony attracted 21.5 million viewers, continuing three years of growth. Industry experts predict the added streaming platform could help surpass 30 million viewers, numbers not seen since 2017.
This year's ceremony promises an exciting lineup of potential nominees from various genres, including the musical "Wicked," sci-fi epic "Dune: Part Two," and dramatic features "Anora" and "Conclave." A-list stars expected to appear include Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Denzel Washington.
The event will broadcast from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, beginning with a red carpet pre-show at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT. The ceremony will reach audiences in over 200 territories worldwide through traditional broadcasting and now, for the first time, streaming.
This adaptation to modern viewing habits represents a major shift in how audiences can experience the Academy Awards, making the ceremony more accessible to viewers across the United States.