Hollywood
BAFTA names Krishnendu Majumdar as TV Committee chair
MUMBAI: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has named the newly elected chairs and deputy chairs of its Sector Committees (Film, Television and Games), who will also sit on the Academy’s Board of Trustees.
Krishnendu Majumdar has been elected as chair of the Television Committee alongside Emma Morgan, who has been elected as deputy chair.
Majumdar is an award-winning producer and director and was trained on the BBC Production Trainee scheme, the ITN News Trainee scheme and the BBC Drama Series Directors Academy. He is the co-founder of an independent production company called Me + You Productions with partner Richard Yee and is developing a slate of factual, comedy and drama projects.
On the other hand, Pippa Harris has been elected as chair of the Film Committee, having held the position of deputy chair for four years. Pippa serves alongside Marc Samuelson, who has been elected as deputy chair.
Harvey Elliott enters the second half of his two-year term as chair of the Games Committee. All Sector Committee chairs and deputy chairs are directors of the Academy, and sit on the Board of Trustees.
Anne Morrison continues as chair of the Academy for the remainder of her two-year term alongside Jane Lush, who was elected to deputy chair earlier this month.
BAFTA chief operating officer Kevin Price said, “I’m delighted to welcome three new members to our Board of Trustees as a result of our recent Sector Committee elections this month. These committees – Film, Television and Games – represent a BAFTA membership of around 7,500 industry professionals and experienced practitioners in the UK and around the world, and they help us, as an Academy, develop and promote the art forms of the moving image, inspire practitioners and benefit the public.”
BAFTA’s Board of Trustees comprises:
• Chair of the Academy: Anne Morrison
• Deputy chair of the Academy: Jane Lush
• Chair, Film Committee: Pippa Harris
• Deputy Chair, Film Committee: Marc Samuelson
• Chair, Television Committee: Krishnendu Majumdar
• Deputy Chair, Television Committee: Emma Morgan
• Chair, Games Committee: Harvey Elliott
• Chair, Learning & Events Committee: Sara Putt
• Two co-opted Trustees: Medwyn Jones, Samir Shah
Samuelson, Majumdar and Morgan are new Board members in 2015.
BAFTA’s Sector Committees recommend to the Board of Trustees how best to carry out the Academy’s mission in their respective industry sectors, while the Board itself manages the business of the Academy and is the ultimate authority on its affairs.
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.
