Riding on the success of the previous year 's ceremony which garnered record-high viewership figures and several Emmys , AMPAS sought changes to the festivities that would help build upon this recent success . In June 1998 , Academy president Robert Rehme announced that the show would be held on a Sunday for the first time in history . AMPAS and network ABC hoped to capitalize on the high television ratings and viewership that benefit programs airing on that particular day of the week . The Academy also stated that the move to Sunday would ease concerns about traffic gridlock and transportation that are significantly lower on weekends
previous year 's ceremony
70th Academy Awards
71st Academy Awards