Watch The Oscars Exclusively Live On Sky

News Release
February 24, 2004.

WATCH THE OSCARS EXCLUSIVELY LIVE ON SKY

SKY Television will broadcast the 76th Annual Academy Awards® EXCLUSIVELY LIVE from Los Angeles on SKY Movies 1, Monday, March 1 from 2pm.

SKY Movies 1 will begin its LIVE build-up from the Kodak Theatre at 2pm, with the Awards ceremony set to begin at 2:30pm.

Of course, New Zealand's anticipation of this year's Oscars® is greater than ever. Peter Jackson's epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, has garnered 11 nominations including "Best Director" and "Best Picture" - the most nominations for any movie this year.

Jackson's competition for the "Best Director" title comes from Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), Peter Weir (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), Clint Eastwood (Mystic River), Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) and Fernando Meirelles (City of God).

For the coveted "Best Picture" award, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is up against Lost in Translation, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Mystic River and Seabiscuit.

Jackson's masterpiece has also been nominated in the following categories; "Best Song"," Best Score", "Best Makeup", "Best Art Direction", "Best Cinematography", "Best Costume Design", "Best Film Editing", "Best Visual Effects" and "Best Sound Mixing".

And who could forget Keisha Castle-Hughes, the 13-year-old Kiwi who is the youngest ever actor to garner a "Best Actress in a Leading Role" nomination for her stunning performance in Whale Rider.

This year's host is the irrepressible Billy Crystal, who has helmed the Academy Awards eight times since 1990.

E! Channel will also be in on the action from the early hours with Countdown to the Red Carpet at 6am, followed by Live From the Red Carpet at 12pm. E! will also be backstage for the Live Post Show, which will screen at 6pm.

The 76th Annual Academy Awards® will screen EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on SKY Movies 1, Monday, March 1 at 2pm, replaying on Saturday, March 6 at 3pm. LIVE pre- and post-show coverage will screen on E! with Countdown to the Red Carpet at 6am, Live From the Red Carpet at 12pm, and the Live Post Show at 6pm.

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