Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony was a night of glamour, excitement, and unexpected twists. However, for Hulu subscribers tuning in to catch the star-studded event, the night quickly turned into a frustrating debacle. As viewers eagerly awaited the announcement of the Best Actress and Best Picture winners, Hulu abruptly cut off its broadcast with a premature “thank you for watching” message, falsely claiming that the live event had ended. Understandably, this left many subscribers feeling outraged and cheated.
Despite promises of Hollywood’s biggest moments still to come, the abrupt end of the broadcast sparked a wave of backlash on social media platforms and the Hulu subreddit, with many viewers threatening to cancel their subscriptions. The blunder came after an earlier issue faced by some customers who had trouble logging into the service, which was resolved just before 9PM ET.
The debacle was attributed to a scheduling error on Hulu’s part. The streaming service had set a specific end time for its Oscars broadcast, which coincided with the unexpected extension of several acceptance speeches – a common occurrence at such prestigious events. As a result, viewers found themselves unceremoniously kicked out of the stream before witnessing the awarding of the evening’s most coveted prizes.
In response to the uproar, Disney, the parent company of Hulu, issued a statement through spokesperson Dorothy Ballowe, acknowledging the technical and live stream issues, and expressing apologies for the inconvenience caused to viewers. A full replay of the event was promised to be made available promptly.
The fact that such streaming mishaps can still occur in 2025, especially from a company as large and experienced as Disney, is perplexing. While cable viewers and those watching through traditional TV antennas were spared from the technical difficulties, Hulu subscribers found themselves at the mercy of the streaming service’s faulty schedule. Those streaming through Hulu with Live TV, however, were able to watch the event seamlessly, as they were connected to the live, linear ABC feed.
As the dust settles on this unfortunate incident, it serves as a reminder of the importance of flawless execution in the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment. Streaming services must strive to deliver seamless viewing experiences to their subscribers, especially during high-profile events like the Academy Awards. Without a doubt, the mishap at the Oscars will prompt Hulu and other streaming platforms to reassess their scheduling and contingency plans, ensuring that viewers can enjoy their favorite programs without interruption.
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