In a major mishap during the Oscars ceremony, Hulu’s inaugural live broadcast of the event was marred by a sudden disruption. As the night drew to a close, the Hulu livestream abruptly went offline, leaving viewers hanging with the crucial awards for best actress and best picture yet to be revealed. Instead of witnessing the eagerly anticipated crowning moments of the show, viewers were met with an error code message indicating that the event had ended prematurely.
Unsurprisingly, the online realm erupted with outrage in response to this unexpected turn of events. Fans, some in the midst of Oscar-viewing gatherings, were left in suspense, eagerly awaiting the outcomes of the pivotal award categories. Those relying on Hulu missed witnessing Mikey Madison and “Anora” clinch the coveted titles of best actress and best picture in real-time.
The blunder did not just end with the premature cutoff, as the Hulu stream had a rocky start for some users who encountered difficulties accessing the platform. This initial hurdle resulted in certain viewers missing out on the show’s musical opening, which featured performances by “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Disney, the parent company of Hulu since 2019, issued an apology to affected viewers, acknowledging the technical glitches that marred the Oscars livestream. The company expressed regret over the unsatisfactory experience and pledged to promptly make a full replay of the event available to rectify the situation.
The replay, which included the concluding segments of the ceremony, was eventually accessible on Hulu by the late hours of Monday morning. Hulu’s foray into live coverage of the Oscars aligns with the growing trend of streaming platforms investing in broadcasting major events, ranging from prestigious award ceremonies to significant pop culture moments and sports extravaganzas like the Super Bowl.
Hulu’s misstep is not an isolated incident among major streaming services. Netflix users have faced similar frustrations in the past, encountering issues such as streaming disruptions and buffering glitches during high-profile live events like the Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul matchup in November. Moreover, fans of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” series also endured a lengthy delay before a live reunion special in 2023.
Traditionally, the Oscars have been broadcast on ABC for decades. While this year marked the first time cord-cutters could access the ceremony via standard Hulu plans, subscribers to the pricier Hulu Live TV had previously enjoyed access to the awards show. Additionally, alternative platforms offering live streaming of ABC, such as YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV, have continued to provide viewers with access to the Oscars.
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Report contributed by AP Writer Beatrice Dupuy in New York.
