Oscars introduce an 'Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film' category
After receiving its lowest viewership this year, the Academy is trying to turn around its game to get back to its prestigious position by being a little less prestigious.
The Academy Awards on Wednesday announced a number of changes, including introducing a new category that will be allotted for "outstanding achievement in popular film." While details on the eligibility criteria are yet to be announced, it is the first time that the Oscars have introduced a new category since its best-animated film category in 2001.
The category will make its debut at the next Academy Awards ceremony, reports said.
The Academy has also revealed that the telecast will be kept under three hours, and awards for some of the 24 categories will be announced during the commercial breaks and will be later edited into the show. This year's ceremony, which saw 'The Shape of Water' take away the winning award, ran just under four hours.