The 2024 Oscars are set to kick off early this year, with the 96th annual Academy Awards scheduled to air on Sunday, March 10. The broadcast will be on ABC in the U.S., starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, following a half-hour ABC preshow that begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The show is expected to conclude by 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, after which ABC will air a new episode of the sitcom Abbott Elementary. This year's start time is an hour earlier than in previous years, a first for the Oscars, and coincides with the first day of daylight saving time, making it feel even earlier for many viewers.
Sources revealed that the decision to move up the Oscars broadcast was driven by a desire to wrap up the show within primetime on the East Coast. In past years, viewership on the East Coast had declined as the lengthy ceremony progressed. The 2023 Oscars saw a resurgence in ratings, with an average of 18.76 million viewers and a 4.03 rating among adults 18-49 on ABC.
The executive producers of the Oscars, Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan, emphasized the importance of the early start time, urging viewers not to be late due to daylight saving time. Showrunner Raj Kapoor expressed optimism about the benefits of the earlier start time and hoped that everyone would be informed.
Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2024 Oscars for the fourth time, with a lineup of presenters including Bad Bunny, Nicolas Cage, Ariana Grande, Ryan Gosling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Regina King, Rita Moreno, John Mulaney, Al Pacino, Michelle Yeoh, and Zendaya. The ceremony will feature five past acting winners presenting awards in the categories they've won, a first since 2009.
Leading the pack of nominees is 'Oppenheimer' with 13 nods, followed by 'Poor Things' with 11, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' with 10, and 'Barbie' with eight nominations. Viewers can find information on how to watch the Oscars in the U.S. and globally, details about this year's show, streaming options for nominated films, and predictions on potential winners and favorites in The Hollywood Reporter's full Oscars coverage.
