As tradition, The Walt Disney Co. is embracing synergy across its divisions to stoke awareness and tune-in for Sunday night’s 96th Oscars — a more pressing issue this year as not only does this year’s event take place the first day of Daylight Saving Time, but it’s set to begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT — a full hour earlier than unusual.
This year’s partnerships inside Disney include an Oscars Pick ‘Em game sponsored by ESPN, a special treat at the Disney parks and Academy Awards-themed program marathons on Disney-owned networks including FX, Freeform and Nat Geo.
“It’s pretty remarkable to see how our great partners across The Walt Disney Company support the Oscars, and we are so proud of all that we’ve been able to deliver leading into this weekend’s show,” said Shannon Ryan, president of marketing, Disney Entertainment Television. “The Oscars mark a life-changing moment for those nominated, and we pull out all the stops to reach the broadest possible audience to tune in and celebrate. From photo moments and themed food items at the parks to movie marathons across our channels and Oscar-winning film collections on our streaming platforms — not to mention screenings at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood — we are once again pulling every synergy lever available to help amplify the Oscars across the company.”
Here is a roundup of some of this year’s synergies:
El Capitan Theatre
At the Disney-owned El Capitan theater in Hollywood, screenings of Oscar-winning Disney movies will be held leading up to the Oscars.
Disney Parks
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Oscars-themed toffee and coconut blondie (“gooey toffee and toasted coconut blondie topped with salted caramel buttercream and a chocolate Oscars accent”) will be sold at the ABC Commissary from Feb. 12 through March 11. The Disney Springs shopping center at the Walt Disney World Resort will feature an Oscars statue photo moment from March 1 to March 15.
Stations/Syndication/ABC News
The “On The Red Carpet Celebrates Awards Season 2024” series features entertainment reporter George Pennacchio kicking off Awards Season 2024 from the Palm Springs International Film Festival; also “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars Luncheon” follows Pennacchio as he interviews this year’s Oscar nominees. That leads to the “On The Red Carpet Oscars Preview” on March 9, previewing this year’s Academy Awards.
ABC News special programing includes the live pre-show “Countdown to Oscars: On the Red Carpet Live!” on Sunday, March 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET/10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT. Pre-show coverage also streams on ABC News Live starting at 1 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT up until the start of the Oscars ceremony.
“Live with Kelly & Mark” will once again air their annual live “After the Oscars” episode on Monday, March 11 from Hollywood’s Dolby Theater — just hours after the Oscars wrapped in the same location. This year, guests include musician Andy Grammer (who is preparing a medley of songs for “After the Oscars”), while comedian Sebastian Maniscalco will give his take on the night and Elaine Welteroth will focus on the Oscars fashion. Meanwhile, “The Bachelor” host Jesse Palmer will serve as the red carpet correspondent for “Live” during the Oscars, and also appear the next morning on “After the Oscars.”
ESPN
Oscars Pick ‘Em game play ends on Sunday at 6:59 p.m. ET. The free to play game can be found on ESPN.com/ABC.com, the ESPN App, and the ESPN Fantasy App and will serve as a ‘second screen’ experience for movie and gaming fans alike. Players pick who they think will win Oscars in each of the 23 categories. Highest score is promised a grand prize. Also, an Oscars statue will be placed on set of “SportsCenter LA” and “NBA Today” leading into Oscars weekend.
Streaming
On Hulu, Academy Award-winning and -nominated films on the platform will be featured. Oscar-nommed streamed films and shorts include “Poor Things,” “The Creator,” “Flamin’ Hot,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó.”
Disney+ features a “Academy Awards Nominees” collection and is streaming Oscar-nommed films and shorts including “Elemental,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” “The Last Repair Shop,” “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Flamin’ Hot,” “The Creator” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”
Cable Networks
FX is featuring an Academy Awards movie marathon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday leading to the Oscars. FXX will bring back “The Simpsons” Academy Awards marathon, including its “The Longest Daycare” Oscar nominated short on Saturday and Sunday (leading to the Oscars). FXM has an Academy Awards movie marathon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday leading to the Oscars. Freeform will feature a weekend of Disney’s Academy Award-winning movies across several categories on Saturday and Sunday. National Geographic has a “Countdown to the Oscars Marathon” on Thursday through Sunday, featuring “Fire of Love,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” “The Cave” and “Free Solo.”
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 96th Oscars airs Sunday, March 10, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.