Oscars will be moved to March 7 following 2010 Winter Olympics

The Oscars will be presented a little later next year.

The 82nd annual Academy Awards will air on March 7 to avoid coinciding with the Winter Olympics, said Leslie Unger, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The 2010 Winter Games are scheduled Feb. 12-28.

This year’s Oscars telecast, hosted by Hugh Jackman, aired Feb. 22 on ABC.

For many years, until 2004, the awards ceremony was held at the end of March.

“It has been in February since then, except for one year, in 2006, where the circumstances were the same as next year, to not coincide with the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics,” Unger said.

Nomination ballots will be mailed to members Dec. 28 and polls will close Jan. 23. Nominations will be announced Feb. 2.

“In terms of the nominating process, that puts another week in the schedule for members to see movies,” Unger said.