Oscars delayed for Winter Olympics

The Oscars will be presented a little later next year, officials announced today.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will air live on ABC from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on March 7 to avoid coinciding with the Winter Olympics, said Leslie Unger, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The 2010 Winter Games are scheduled for February 12-28.

This year’s Oscars telecast, hosted by Hugh Jackman, aired on February 22.

For many years, until 2004, the awards ceremony was held at the end of March.

“It has been in February since then, except for one year, in 2006, where the circumstances were the same as next year, to not coincide with the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics,” Ms Unger said today.

Nominations ballots will be mailed to members on December 28 and nominations polls will close on January 23.

Nominations will be announced on February 2.

“In terms of the nominating process, that puts another week in the schedule for members to see movies,” Ms Unger said.