It’s hard to believe the 2026 Academy Awards are just days away.
Hollywood’s biggest night will air live on ABC as per usual, with a red-carpet event preceding the ceremony. But if you click over to the channel before all of the star-studded glamour begins, you’ll catch some of ABC’s high-profile NBA coverage.
One could argue that the pivot from basketball to dazzling dresses is a bit abrupt — so how might parent-company Disney smooth out the transition? Even better: How can the channel keep all those sports fans tuned into ABC as its red carpet then kicks off?
That’s where a seasoned TV, digital and social commentator can swoop in to help. ESPN’s Omar Raja, who founded the House of Highlights Instagram account that ultimately became a cultural phenomenon, will be featured for half an hour during ABC’s On the Red Carpet at the Oscars, Variety reports, offering some unique insights that are customary to his social-media series Hot Take Hotline.
“We are trying to keep some of that sports audience, and make it into a combination of sports and culture,” said Raja — who got a few minutes on the red carpet last year — to Variety in an article published Tuesday, March 10.
“Having Omar return as a contributor to this year’s pre-show is a natural fit,” Adrianne Anderson, ABC’s senior vice president of content development, told the magazine. “As one of ESPN’s leading digital strategists and social media voices, his distinctive perspective makes him the ideal bridge from ESPN’s NBA coverage on ABC to an evening of Oscars red carpet coverage.”
As Oscar Sunday draws closer and closer, other exciting updates have been released surrounding the event. It was recently announced that When Harry Met Sally stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan will reunite during the ceremony to pay tribute to the late Rob Reiner, for example.
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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