On Sunday night, March 2, 2025, Hulu made its debut by airing the Academy Awards live for the first time. However, the experience ended on a chaotic note, as the live stream cut out in the final moments of the ceremony, leaving viewers without the announcement of two major awards: Best Actress and Best Picture. Instead of seeing the climactic conclusion, Hulu viewers were confronted with an error message indicating that the event was over.
This abrupt ending led to widespread viewer outrage on social media, especially among fans hosting Oscar-viewing parties who were eagerly anticipating the final moments of the awards show. Key moments—including the announcement of winners Mikey Madison for Best Actress and the film "Anora" for Best Picture—were missed in real time due to the streaming issues.
Additionally, the streaming service faced initial technical difficulties, with a number of users reporting problems logging into the platform at the start of the event. This resulted in some missing the musical opening performed by "Wicked" stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, further compounding user dissatisfaction.
Disney, which has operated Hulu since 2019, issued an apology to affected viewers, acknowledging the technical difficulties experienced during the live stream. They stated, "This evening, we experienced technical and live stream issues on Hulu which impacted some Oscars viewers. We apologize for the experience and will make a full replay of the event available as soon as possible." By late Monday morning, a replay that included the final moments of the awards was made available on Hulu.
Hulu's foray into broadcasting the Oscars comes amid a broader trend of streaming platforms increasingly investing in live programming for major events, including awards shows and sporting events. While Hulu now allows standard subscribers to watch the Oscars, those with Hulu Live TV had the ability to tune in in previous years. The show is also accessible through other live streaming services, such as YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV, further highlighting the competitive landscape of streaming options for viewers.
This streaming mishap isn’t an isolated incident. Other major platforms like Netflix have also encountered problems during live events. For instance, users expressed frustrations related to streaming and buffering issues during a highly publicized November matchup between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. Furthermore, Netflix's "Love Is Blind" special in 2023 also faced delays that disappointed its fanbase.
The long-standing tradition of the Oscars airing on ABC for decades must now adapt to the new reality wherein home viewers seek alternative ways to enjoy the ceremony. With streaming platforms continually evolving, the technical failures experienced by Hulu serve as a reminder of the challenges they face in live broadcasting.
As the viewing habits of audiences shift towards streaming, the pressure on platforms to deliver seamless and uninterrupted experiences grows. Hulu's debut as an Oscars broadcaster aims to capture audience interest, but the unfortunate technical glitches serve as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in live broadcasts.
