Hulu’s Oscars Livestream Glitch Frustrates Viewers During Historic Telecast

The 97th Academy Awards’ livestream on Hulu faced severe login issues, leaving viewers frustrated as the show began. Despite the glitch, the initiative aims to reach younger audiences and increase advertising revenues. The broadcast industry is adapting to a significant decline in traditional viewership, especially for award shows, while competition from streaming grows, particularly in sports.

The 97th Academy Awards experienced an unfortunate tech mishap, hindering many viewers from logging in at the start of the historic livestream on Hulu. “Unable to log in?” read the frustrating message on screens, with Hulu reassuring fans that their team was on the case. Multiple social media platforms echoed this issue, sparking a torrent of complaints from eager Oscar-watchers as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande opened the ceremony, marking the first Oscars aired live online.

Despite the glitch, this inaugural live event underscores a broader trend toward streaming, aiming to attract younger audiences. Disney’s strategy to include Hulu aims to bolster advertising opportunities, with the company reporting full inventory sales for commercial slots during the Oscars, maintaining rates comparable to those predicted for 2024. The ads streamed on Hulu mirrored those aired on ABC, enhancing the overall commercial impact.

While live broadcasts contend with a growing trend of declining viewership – especially for awards shows – the Oscars continue to hold historical significance. Even as ratings improve, particularly with last year being the highest since 2020, the pool of potential viewers remains smaller than decades past. This shift, coupled with a surge towards streaming in live sports, illustrates the changing landscape of how audiences engage with major televised events.

The glitches during the 97th Academy Awards reflect ongoing challenges with live streaming services, particularly Hulu. Despite this hiccup, the shift toward digital streaming remains critical in attracting younger audiences and sustaining advertising revenue. As traditional broadcast viewership wanes, companies like Disney strive to adapt their strategies in this evolving entertainment environment.

Original Source: deadline.com