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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Changes planned in Academy Award presentations

Associated Press

Some of this year’s Academy Award winners will receive their prizes from a presenter stationed in the audience in an effort to make sure every nominee is seen on camera.

Producer Gil Cates told the annual luncheon of nominees on Monday that the changes for the Feb. 27 telecast were a way to reduce the time it takes winners to make their way to the stage and to get more nominees seen by the worldwide television audience.

Some nominees will get their Oscars the traditional way, walking to the stage after their name is announced. In other instances, nominees in a single category will be gathered on stage while the presenter opens the envelope.

Cates said he believes these changes will be adopted by other awards shows as a new way to hand out prizes.

He also urged the nominees to keep their acceptance speeches short if they win and focus on saying something meaningful rather than reading a list of names unfamiliar to the viewing audience.

Oscar stays with ABC

Oscar is going to keep its home on ABC for an additional six years.

The network’s deal to televise the Academy Awards has been extended through 2014, said Frank Pierson, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“By the end of this new extension, ABC will have carried 38 consecutive Oscar telecasts, and 56 of the 61 ceremonies ever televised,” Pierson said.

The existing deal for domestic broadcasts between ABC and the academy was due to expire in 2008. International rights are covered under a separate agreement with Buena Vista International that runs through 2010.