MUMBAI: The writers strike notwithstanding, Hollywood is gearing up for its annual extravaganza - the Oscar Awards ceremony. The 80th Academy Awards is slated to be held at the Shrine/Kodak Theatre in swanky Los Angeles come 24 February 2008.

The ceremony will air on ABC in the US and on Star Movies in India on 24 February 2008.

No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Michael Cloayton, Atonement are predicted as being among the front running contenders to take the statuette home.

The Oscar TV production team has decided to hire veteran red carpet arrivals producer Dennis Doty to create the 30-minute red carpet arrivals segment prior to the actual awards ceremony.

This will be Doty's sixth Oscar stint. He produced the first Oscar arrivals show, which aired prior to the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, as well as the shows preceding the 73rd Awards in 2001, the 75th Anniversary Awards in 2003, the 77th Awards in 2005 and the 78th Awards in 2006.

The academy is expecting a full turnout, and is going ahead as it does every year as if things are normal. But observers raised their eyebrows questioning whether the quality of the telecast will be up to the mark. The Writers Guild of America has been demanding a share of internet and other digital revenues and has struck work since last month. And there seems little resolution in sight.

The WGA's pens' down movement has affected Hollywood's producers - more so those involved in television. Some networks have been airing reruns as their stock of banked episodes has run out. The writers' strike means a lot to the live events business, especially for one such as high profile as the Oscars. The quality of writing plays a key role in sustaining viewers interest, be it for the introductory speech by the host, remarks made about the nominated films or even the acceptance speeches.