ABC wants more creative control over Oscars

[mvcg66b3r]

Negotiations for ABC to extend its license agreement for the annual Oscar telecast are underway, but there’s a sticking point: ABC wants more creative input.

ABC’s deal with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences already runs through 2020, but the two sides have been in talks for some time about an extension. A long-term deal would provide stability for the Academy as it looks to take on debt to help finance its ambitious Hollywood museum project, set to open in 2018.

Given the ratings issues with recent Oscarcasts, ABC has a much stronger argument to make at the bargaining table. Sunday’s 88th annual Academy Awards brought in the lowest ratings in eight years, a disappointment for Hollywood’s glitziest awards gala.

Under the terms of the contract, the Academy retains the rights to produce the show. That means AMPAS officials pick the producers, the host and set the tone for the overall production.

The network has always wanted more power, and now declining ratings strengthens its demand for a seat at the table when it comes to the show itself. The push is seen as coming from Ben Sherwood and the top ranks of ABC. (The Academy and ABC declined comment on ongoing negotiations.)

On Sunday, host Chris Rock drew generally positive reviews for attacking the Oscars’ diversity crisis with biting jokes. But the overall production of the show was seen as lackluster, given the industry it celebrates. With the diversity issue adding to the pressure, AMPAS is likely to be in a mood to cut a deal.

https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/abc-academy-oscars-deal-renegotiations-oscars-2016-1201718452/

With the weak ratings, do you think ABC will offer makegoods to advertisers?

 

[TheBigA]

One of the scary parts of this discussion is that one of the major studios, Disney, owns ABC. If you're Warners, Paramount, or any other studio, do you want a competitor controlling your awards show? It's like having Universal produce the Grammy Awards.

There were no blockbuster movies nominated for Best Picture, no big stars other than Leo. Why watch? The host was better known that most of the nominees.

 

[KeithE4]

One of the scary parts of this discussion is that one of the major studios, Disney, owns ABC. If you're Warners, Paramount, or any other studio, do you want a competitor controlling your awards show? It's like having Universal produce the Grammy Awards.

Then what network could air them? CBS (CBS Films), NBC (Universal), ABC (Disney), and Fox (20th Century Fox) all are tied to movie studios, although CBS Films isn't really a major player.

 

[TheBigA]

Then what network could air them? CBS (CBS Films), NBC (Universal), ABC (Disney), and Fox (20th Century Fox) all are tied to movie studios, although CBS Films isn't really a major player.

According to the article, CBS wants it. As you say, CBS Films isn't a major like Disney. And they're not the ones asking for creative control. That's really the issue here. ABC is. But ABC has the contract until 2020, so getting it will take some doing.

 

[umfan]

I think ABC should make clear they are willing to let it go, and leave the table. CBS would then use that leverage to pay less.

As long as they keep nominating thinly viewed films for the biggest awards, the ratings will languish.

 

[CTListener]

I think ABC should make clear they are willing to let it go, and leave the table. CBS would then use that leverage to pay less.

As long as they keep nominating thinly viewed films for the biggest awards, the ratings will languish.

The danger there is that the Academy Awards turn into the cinematic equivalent of the Billboard Music Awards and only the top box-office performers of the last year are even considered. This year, you would have seen a coronation for "Star Wars."

As it now stands, although the ratings for the TV show suffer when non-blockbusters dominate the nominations, at least some of those movies get a chance to make a lot more money when they're brought back to the theaters for viewing by the multitudes who missed them (or never had them come to their town) the first time around with Oscar notoriety accompanying them. That said, "Spotlight" is never going to pack cineplexes. It deals with a subject few people want to look at for 2 1/2 hours and its heroes are newspaper reporters in a time when many people despise "the media." This isn't "All the President's Men." People wanted to see that because the downfall of Richard Nixon was something that many found fascinating and made for great drama on screen. Pedophile priests, not so much.

What's more important to the movie industry, getting maximum box office returns out of its product for as many films as possible from all studios or making sure its annual award show does well so Disney can boost its bottom line?

 

[TheBigA]

What's more important to the movie industry, getting maximum box office returns out of its product for as many films as possible from all studios or making sure its annual award show does well so Disney can boost its bottom line?

In a partnership, it can't be an either-or situation. Both sides have to benefit. ABC feels it's not getting it's fair share.

 

[umfan]

Very well stated, BigA. I think the Academy has an outsized view of its importance and place in the entertainment landscape. What the Academy considers a great film and how the general public views that has greatly diverged in recent years. Certainly, the Academy shouldn't be bound to nominate popular films, in fact 2015 had few blockbusters appropriate for Best Picture, but they focus on films that have small appeal at their own peril.

If they expect someone to underwrite their gala while not getting a decent ROI, the Academy may well find itself having to pay all production costs and then buy its own broadcast time. I doubt that is what they want, so they should be open to talking to ABC.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm pretty sure ABC doesn't want to interfere in the voting or the integrity of the Academy. They just want to make the TV show more entertaining, and perhaps load it up with their own TV stars promoting their regular series. That's what CBS does with their awards shows.

 

[landtuna]

I'm pretty sure ABC doesn't want to interfere in the voting or the integrity of the Academy. They just want to make the TV show more entertaining, and perhaps load it up with their own TV stars promoting their regular series. That's what CBS does with their awards shows.

....and provides more reasons for the general public to ignore the presentation.

 

[umfan]

....which they are doing anyway, but such an approach retains a rationale for a broadcast partner to not only air the show, but fund its production as well.