The organizers of the Oscars announced on Wednesday that due to poor viewership, the awards ceremony will be shortened to a maximum of three hours and a new category for the most popular film will be introduced, reports Guardian.
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In a letter to members, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences states that some of the 24 Oscars will be awarded during commercial breaks.
The changes, which will be implemented at the ceremony in February 2019, mark a significant turning point in the awarding of this most prestigious award in the film industry, introduced after years of declining viewership.
The Oscars ceremony in March this year was watched by only 26.5 million people in the U.S., the lowest in the 90-year history of the awards.
The letter does not provide details about the new category that will be introduced for the most popular film or the categories for which awards will be given during commercials.
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The Oscars ceremony regularly lasts nearly four hours.
“We want to produce an entertaining three-hour show and provide a more accessible Oscars for our viewers around the world,” states the Board of Governors.
