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The channel has announced what it claims is the most extensive
television tribute to the Academy Awards by presenting an Oscar
feast of Oscar winners spanning over five decades of cinematic excellence.
Viewers can catch blockbusters like Lawrence Of Arabia, Ben-Hur,
The Exorcist, Gladiator every Saturday after the 9:30
pm movie and after the 9 pm movie on Sunday.
An official release informs that ever since it’s launch, HBO has
been credited with the tradition of making March an Oscar month
showcasing the best of the Oscars through the month. This year the
theme is 'quality vs. quantity'. The eight films being showcased
have earned a combined total of 39 Oscar awards including four for
Best Picture and another four for Best Director. 'So why settle
for the nominated "could have beens" when you can get the real deal
on the one & only true Hollywood channel HBO' is the pitch that
has been made.
In order to create viewer interactivity the channel has gone a
step further through its HBO Oscar Pick the Winners contest.
The contest is about nominating a winner each from the four main
categories: picture, director, actor and actress. Winners will get
bumper prizes for getting all correct answers. Also even the ones
who get at least one right answer will not be disappointed.
The contest is hosted on hboasia.com and is actively promoted on
the channel as well. Film buffs can also catch HBO’s 75th Academy
Awards highlights, which showcase the respective nominees in each
category. The promos will also include movie clips and interviews
of various stars and footage on the potential Academy Award winners.
Right now the musical Chicago is the film to beat with 13
nominations. Martin Scorcese could at long last wear the best director
cap for Gangs of New York. . Star Movies will air the event
live once again on 24 March and it will be interesting to note if
the ratings fall drastically from last year due to the absence of
Devdas.
The telecast schedule on HBO is as follows:
| Date |
Film |
Time |
Number Of Oscars |
| 1 March |
Batman |
11:30 pm |
1 |
| 2 march |
Ben Hur |
11 pm |
11 |
| 8 March |
Lawrence of Arabia |
11:45 pm |
7 |
| 9 March |
The Nutty Professor |
11:15 pm |
1 |
| 15 March |
The Bridge on the River Kwai |
12:30 pm |
7 |
| 16 March |
The Exorcist |
11:15 pm |
2 |
| 22 March |
Saving Private Ryan |
11:30 pm |
5 |
| 23 March |
Gladiator |
11 pm |
5 |
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