Oscars Raw: ABC to Stream Live, Candid Behind the Scenes Coverage of Academy Awards
by Richard Sharp
You know the interesting comments that come from the mouths of NFL coaches when they are mic’ed up on the sidelines? Imagine how that translates to the backstage at the Oscars. Hide your kids, hide your wife, 'cause The Academy Awards are about to start getting raw.
ABC execs told Ad Age today that they will be streaming candid behind-the-scenes footage of the Oscars ceremony live and online at Oscars.com.
The network is expected to bring from 20-30 cameras for the exclusive backstage feed, according to the network’s head of digital Brian Cheng.
Red carpet coverage will be free, but the network will charge $4.95 for the chance to see Paz De La Huerta gracelessly careen out of her dress, or a red-faced and slurry George Clooney pawing at Betty White like she's a delicious dry-aged filet mignon.
"If you're watching the telecast with your laptop, you could see someone deliver their thank-you speech on TV, then as the music plays you'll see them walk off the stage on your laptop, going offstage through the control room and onto the thank-you camera," Mr. Cheng said.
"You can follow them all the way down to the press room, assuming you can keep up or don't get distracted by anything else."
Anne Hathaway, who was recently named the next Catwoman will join Oscar-nominated James Franco in hosting the ceremony. Musical performers for this year’s ceremony include Gwyneth Paltrow, Randy Newman and the fantastic last-minute-replacement Florence and the Machines.
We just have one question for ABC? Did you guys see Tracy Morgan on TNT a couple weeks ago? We're just sayin'...
The Oscars will be broadcast on February 27th at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Whether you’re watching the ceremony online or on ABC, vote today on your picks for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards for a chance to win 5,000 Yidio credits.