Hollywood
Oscars unveils stellar line-up of presenters
MUMBAI: This year’s Oscars will see a stellar line-up of presenters.
From Josh Hutcherson, Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldana, Octavia Spencer, Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey to Lupita Nyong’o, the who’s who of Hollywood will take to the stage to present various awards this year.
Cotillard, Cumberbatch, Streep, Winfrey and Witherspoon have all been nominated for the Oscars this year. Cotillard is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Two Days, One Night. She previously won an Oscar in this category for La Vie en Rose (2007). On the other hand, Cumberbatch is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for The Imitation Game.
Streep earned a record 19th acting nomination this year for her supporting role in Into the Woods. She previously took home Oscars for her lead performances in Sophie’s Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011), and her supporting performance in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). Streep’s previous Best Actress nominations were for The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), Silkwood (1983), Out of Africa (1985), Ironweed (1987), A Cry in the Dark (1988), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), One True Thing (1998), Music of the Heart (1999), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Doubt (2008), Julie & Julia (2009) and August: Osage County (2013). She also received Best Supporting Actress nominations for The Deer Hunter (1978) and Adaptation (2002).
Winfrey is nominated for Best Picture as one of the producers of Selma. She was previously nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role for The Color Purple (1985). She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011.
Witherspoon is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Wild. She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2005 movie Walk the Line.
Additionally, last year’s Oscar winners Blanchett, Leto, McConaughey and Nyong’o will also be seen presenting awards this year. “The great tradition of having the previous year’s Oscar-winning best actors and actresses in all four categories happily continues this year with the amazing quartet of Cate, Jared, Matthew and Lupita. We’re thrilled to have them back,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
Blanchett has been nominated for six Oscars and has won two, including last year’s award for Blue Jasmine. Her previous win was for Actress in a Supporting Role for the 2004 film The Aviator. Blanchett also received leading actress nominations for Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), and supporting actress nominations for Notes on a Scandal (2006) and I’m Not There (2007).
Last year, Leto won the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role and McConaughey for Actor in a Leading Role, both for Dallas Buyer’s Club. Nyong’o took home the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for 12 Years a Slave.
The Oscars will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and will be held on 22 February.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
