The Walt Disney Co. is once again leaning heavily into synergy across its divisions as it aims to bolster awareness and tune-in for Sunday night’s 95th Oscars. That includes pop-up events at Disney parks and resorts; special program marathons on Disney-owned networks including FX, Freeform and Nat Geo; and Oscar-branded programming on ESPN, ABC News and ABC-owned stations.
That includes everything from an Oscars-themed chocolate brownie milkshake at the Disney California Adventure eatery known as “Schmoozies,” to a binge of “The Simpsons” episodes featuring Oscar-winning guest stars, Hollywood and movie homages and more on FXX.
“We are so proud to be the home of the Oscars and are incredibly fortunate to have the power and reach of The Walt Disney Company to help drive to Sunday’s show,” said Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group, in a statement. “With Jimmy Kimmel hosting, there has been a renewed energy surrounding the telecast, and our Disney networks and partners across the organization have made a massive effort to ensure that the anticipation is continuing to build with fans at every Disney touchpoint. From Walt’s one-of-a-kind honorary Academy Award featured at the parks to Oscar winning movie marathons airing across our networks, we’re doing everything possible to celebrate Hollywood’s biggest night and the excitement is palpable.”
Here’s a roundup of this year’s Disney/Oscars synergy:
Disney Parks & Resorts
Oscars-themed food and beverage items across parks and resorts include an Oscars-themed chocolate brownie milkshake at “Schmoozies” and three themed funnel cake fries at “Award Wieners” in Disney California Adventure. Oscars-branded popcorn will be sold at select carts throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios, plus a tropical tart topped withOscars-branded chocolate coin will be available at theABCCommissary.
Branded photo momentsinclude aphoto opportunity for guests with Walt Disney’shonorary “Snow Whiteand the Seven Dwarfs”Academy Award on displaythrough March 20at Disney California Adventure’s Carthay Circle. (The Oscars are on loan from The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.) An Oscars-themed photo wall will be found at Disney Springs, and a giant Oscar statue and red-carpet photo moment in Grand Californian Hotel lobby (where hotel guests will also take part in a watch party).
Additionally, anOscarspromo featuring Mickey and Minnie will run prior to movie screenings and in all resort and cruise ship rooms.
ESPN
Among ESPN partnerships are an Oscars statue on set of “SportsCenter LA” and “NBA Today” leading intoOscarsweekend. ESPN has also launched a free-to-play Oscars pick ‘em game on ABC and ESPN, ending before the Oscars begin on Sunday. Players will compete by picking who they think will win the Oscar in each of the 23 categoriesand watch their scores in real-time as winners are announced. Those with the highest score will win a grand prize that includes a three-day/two-night trip for two to Los Angeles and tickets to the 2024 Oscars Watch Party at the Academy Museum, as well as $2500. An additional ten First Prize packs will be givn out withofficialOscarsswag such as a tote, water bottle, notebook, pen and beanie.
ABC News
ABCNews Oscars coverage includes thepre-show“Countdown toOscars95: The Red Carpet Live”Sunday, March 12 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PT, featuring PvNew’s own Clayton Davis and Elizabeth Wagmeister. ABCNews Livewill stream “ABCNews Live Presents…“Countdown toOscars95: The Red Carpet LIVE”starting at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.
Stations/Syndication/ Digital
“Live with Kelly and Ryan AfterOscarsShow”returns on March 13. Meanwhile, O&O digital platforms will feature a live stream of red carpet and pre-show coverage onABC,ABCapp andABCNews Live, while the main telecast will be live streaming onABC andABCapp.
And the ABC stations’ “On the Red Carpet” will hold a contest for three viewers to win the opportunity to sit on the red carpet. ABCaffiliates will air “On The Red Carpet – Oscar Nominee Special,” “On The Red Carpet Countdown toOscars” and “On The Red Carpet Oscar Sunday Preview.” On Sunday, March 12, “On the Red Carpet” will feature more than seven hours of live coverage. Post-Oscars, “On The Red Carpet After The Awards” recaps the night, and “On The Red Carpet After Dark” closes out the evening.
Streamers
Disney+in Norway, Hungary, Philippines (Hotstar), India (Hotstar), and Indonesia (Hotstar) will air the Oscars live. On Hulu, the Oscarsceremony livestream will be featured on the Live Now and Spotlight placements on Hulu + Live TV. And “On The Red Carpet: After the Awards” and “On the Red Carpet: After Dark” will stream live in the TV for You placements on Hulu SVOD.
Disney Music Group
A “Disney At The Awards” playlist will be featured on music streaming platforms Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music and Amazon Music, highlighting music from current Oscar-nominated Disney movies.
Cable Networks
FXwill feature a weekend movie marathon of Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films on March 10 to March 12. FXMis running a full week of Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films from March 6 to March 12. FXX will include an Oscar-weekend “The Simpsons” marathon featuring Oscar-winning guests on series as well as the Oscar-winning Simpsons short “The Longest Daycare” and encounters with Hollywood and movies homage. Freeform’s “Oscar Funday Weekend” includes Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated Disney movies on March 11 and March 12. National Geographicwill re-air the Oscar-winning documentary film “Free Solo” on March 12.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars airs Sunday, March 12, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.
