Oscars moved to avoid Olympic clash
Next year's Oscars ceremony has been postponed until March to avoid a clash with the 2010 Winter Olympics.
A spokesperson for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that the 82nd annual awards have been moved from the end of February to March 7 in order to avoid coinciding with the sports event.
The Oscars have been held in February since 2004, before which they were staged at the end of March. The Olympics are scheduled to take place in Vancouver from February 12 until February 28, meaning that the movie awards could have faced stiff competition in viewer ratings.
Speaking to AP, Academy representative Leslie Unger said: "It has been [held] in February since [2004], 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."
She explained that nominations ballots would be mailed to members on December 28, with polls closing on January 23 and nominations being announced on February 2.
"In terms of the nominating process, that puts another week in the schedule for members to see movies."