UK film fans will no longer be able to watch the Oscars on Sky, as the pay-TV giant has decided to forego the rights to the world’s biggest movie awards ceremony. Sky had been hosting coverage of the Oscars for the past 20 years, but now rightsholder Disney is in talks with a new UK buyer. Previously, Sky had won the rights from the BBC in 2004 after a back-and-forth battle between the two networks. The reasons for Sky’s decision are likely related to the current macroeconomic slump and the need for cost savings. In recent years, UK audiences for the Oscars have been declining, with only 35,000 viewers tuning in live on the main Sky Cinema channel this year compared to nearly 60,000 in 2022. The U.S. Oscars coverage is shown on ABC and last year’s ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Sky declined to comment on their decision.
Deadline reports that after being aired on Sky in the UK for over two decades, the Oscars will no longer be shown on the network.
