ITV has officially bagged the rights to exclusively broadcast and stream the Oscars in the UK, it has been confirmed.
The Academy Awards have found themselves a new British home.
After it was revealed that Sky had lost the rights to broadcast the annual motion picture awards ceremony – which it had held since 2004, taking over from the BBC – ITV has now taken the reins as the exclusive partner for the 96th Oscars as part of what is a new multi-year deal with Disney Entertainment.
Next year’s ceremony will air live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood into living rooms across the UK through ITV1 and ITVX.
This means that, for the first time since 2003, film fans on this side of the pond will be able to watch the biggest event in the awards season calendar on TV for free.
Sky lost the Oscars’ broadcast rights after viewing ratings for the show began plummeting year-on-year, with reports indicating that only 35,000 people watched last year’s event, compared to almost 60,000 the year before.
But now its ITV’s turn to roll out the red carpet
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“We are thrilled to be able to exclusively bring the Oscars to film fans all across the UK,” Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Manager for ITV and ITVX, commented on the new broadcast deal.
“[This will] further and complement our commitment to films across our network, as we already have a fantastic collection of over 250 feature films available on ITVX at any one time, and are looking forward to sharing the movie-event of the year with our viewers.”
ITV gets rights to exclusively broadcast and stream the Oscars in the UK / Credit: WallpaperFlare
Bill Kramer, who is the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said he “could not be happier” to partner with ITV in bringing the Oscars to UK viewers, adding: “The Oscars is a celebration of global cinema and recognies films and film artists from around the world.
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“ITV’s support of our international awards show is a testament to its deep devotion to the movies.”
This new multi-year agreement will also see future Oscars made available across ITV platforms and programming – including ITV1 and ITVX, ITVX social channels, and news and magazine shows.
You can watch the 96th Oscars exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK on Sunday 10 March 2024.
Featured Image – The Academy (via Twitter)
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
12th September 2023 
