An Earlier Oscar Ceremony for 2012?

In an effort to draw more interest to the Academy Awards, the event’s organizers are considering moving the 2012 Oscar ceremony up to late January or early February. While next year’s ceremony is scheduled to air on ABC on February 27, the earlier date for 2012 would allow the Oscars to avoid having its ratings diluted by a packed awards season. Next year, the Oscars will follow January 14's Critics' Choice Movie Awards; January 16's Golden Globe Awards on NBC; January 30's Screen Actors Guild Awards; and February 13's British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. The date change, however, has been complicated by the NFL, which is considering extending the football season by two games, leading to a potential conflict between the Oscars and the Super Bowl. “It's not a done deal yet,” said academy President Tom Sherak. “I think we would like to do it. Progress is being made, but we don't have it all right just yet."