Hollywood
Sony Le Plex HD to premiere Philippe Petit’s ‘The Walk’
MUMBAI: “My dream is to be the most glorious wire walker in history,” so said Philippe Petit.
There may have been dozens step on the moon, but only one man has ever walked between the World Trade Center Towers, 1,350 feet above the ground. Bringing the engaging real-life depiction of the wire-walk between the Twin Towers, Sony Le Plex HD is all geared up to air the premiere of The Walk. The movie will broadcast on 20 November 2016 at 1 pm and 9 pm.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie chronicles the courage and belief of 24-year-old Petit played by Joseph Gorden-Levitt along with actor Ben Kingsley as the worthy mentor.
The plot revolves around a young French high-wire artist, whose heart is set on the Twin Towers in US, aspiring to walk the void between the two someday. His unnerving passion leads him to celebrated high wire artist Papa Rudy and beautiful musician Annie. Together, they resolve to accomplish the most illicit yet lyrical piece of performance in history.
A visual spectacle in every sense of the term, The Walk was applauded across the world for outstanding visual effects. With rigorous lessons from Petit himself, Gorden-Levitt emerged as an actor of athletic finesse with just eight days to portray the story of man who believes that art can make you fly.
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.
