The Academy Awards have long been considered the most prestigious night in film, celebrating the best in cinema from around the world. However, in recent years, viewership has declined as audience habits shift, attention spans shorten, and streaming platforms reshape how people consume entertainment. To stay relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape, the Oscars must evolve.
Here are five practical, modern strategies that could significantly grow the Oscars audience and bring the show back to must-watch status.
1) First-Time Official Movie Trailers
One of the biggest opportunities the Oscars are missing is leveraging something audiences already love: exclusive content.
Think about the Super Bowl. While millions tune in for football, a huge portion of viewers watch specifically for the commercials and first-look trailers. Studios debut major upcoming films during the broadcast because they know people are watching.
The Oscars already include commercial breaks—so why not turn those into highly anticipated entertainment moments?
Imagine tuning in knowing you’ll see:
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- The first trailer for the next Spider-Man movie
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- A brand-new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio
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- Exclusive previews of summer blockbusters
This strategy would:
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- Attract younger audiences
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- Increase social media buzz
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- Give people a reason to watch live instead of catching highlights later
If viewers know they’ll miss something big by not watching in real time, they’re far more likely to tune in.
2) Decrease Oscars Run Time
One of the most common complaints about the Oscars is simple: it’s too long.
The ceremony often runs between 3 to 4 hours, which is a major commitment—especially for younger audiences used to short-form content. Long runtimes lead to:
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- Viewer drop-off midway through the show
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- Less engagement overall
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- Lower ratings
A smarter approach would be to streamline the broadcast.
Instead of presenting all 22–24 awards on live television, the Oscars could focus on the six most popular categories:
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- Best Director
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- Best Actor
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- Best Actress
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- Best Supporting Actor
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- Best Supporting Actress
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- Best Picture
Other awards could still be given—but during a separate, non-televised ceremony or pre-show.
By doing this, the Oscars could:
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- Cut runtime down to around 2 hours
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- Maintain audience attention
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- Keep the pacing fast and engaging
In today’s entertainment environment, shorter often means better.
3) Add New Genre Categories
Another major issue with the Oscars is perception: many people feel the awards only celebrate a narrow type of film.
Let’s be honest—Best Picture often feels like it could be renamed “Best Drama.” A large majority of nominated films fall into that category, leaving fans of other genres feeling left out.
To fix this, the Oscars could introduce genre-specific awards, such as:
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- Best Drama Picture
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- Best Comedy Picture
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- Best Thriller/Horror Picture
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- Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Picture
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- Best Documentary Picture
- Best Action Picture
This change would:
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- Appeal to a wider audience
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- Recognize more diverse storytelling
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- Make the awards feel more inclusive and relevant
Not everyone enjoys slow-paced dramas. Many viewers love action, horror, or comedy—and giving those genres recognition would encourage more fans to tune in.
Additionally, with a streamlined format, the total number of awards could still remain manageable. For example:
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- 6 genre awards
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- 5 major awards
That’s 11 total categories, easily fitting into a shorter, more engaging show.
4) Improve Accessibility Through Streaming
Accessibility is one of the biggest barriers to Oscars viewership today.
Traditional cable TV is declining, especially among younger audiences who prefer streaming platforms. If people can’t easily watch the Oscars, they simply won’t.
This is already changing in some regions. For example, in Canada, viewers have been able to stream the Oscars through platforms like Crave. But globally, access is still inconsistent.
There have been discussions about streaming the Oscars on platforms like YouTube in the future—but waiting until 2028 or 2029 may be too late.
The solution is simple:
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- Make the Oscars available everywhere, live, and for free (or widely accessible)
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- Stream simultaneously across multiple platforms
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- Optimize for mobile viewing
Benefits include:
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- Reaching younger audiences
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- Expanding global viewership
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- Increasing real-time engagement
In a world where people expect instant access, the Oscars need to meet viewers where they are—not the other way around.
5) Text Voting by Fans
One of the most effective ways to engage audiences is to give them a voice.
Popular reality shows like Love Island have mastered this by allowing fans to vote in real time. This creates a sense of participation and urgency—viewers feel like they’re part of the outcome.
The Oscars could adopt a similar concept with a “Fans’ Choice Award.”
Here’s how it could work:
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- Viewers vote live during the broadcast via text or app
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- All nominated films are eligible
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- Results are revealed at the end of the show
This would:
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- Encourage live viewing (no spoilers!)
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- Increase audience interaction
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- Make the event feel more dynamic and modern
A fan-voted category wouldn’t replace traditional awards—it would complement them, adding a layer of excitement and inclusivity.
Final Thoughts
The Oscars are still one of the most iconic events in entertainment, but staying relevant requires adaptation. By embracing modern viewing habits and audience expectations, the ceremony can regain its cultural impact.
To recap, the five key strategies to grow the Oscars audience are:
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- Debuting exclusive movie trailers during the broadcast
- Reducing the show’s runtime to improve engagement
- Adding genre-specific categories for broader appeal
- Expanding streaming access across platforms
- Introducing live fan voting for interactive participation
Each of these ideas focuses on one core principle: making the Oscars more engaging, accessible, and inclusive.
If implemented thoughtfully, these changes could transform the Oscars from a declining broadcast into a must-watch global event once again.
