Academy Reportedly Warned By DOJ Over Efforts To Shut Netflix Out Of Oscars
LOS GATOS (CBS SF) – The Department of Justice has warned the Academy of Motion Pictures over potential rule changes that could suppress competition from Los Gatos-based Netflix and other streaming services.
Last month, director Steven Spielberg, who's an Academy board member, reportedly planned to suggest that movies that debut on streaming services shouldn't be eligible for an Oscar, which caused an uproar online.
Dear @TheAcademy, This is a Board of Governors meeting. And regular branch members can't be there. But I hope if this is true, that you'll have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently. Thanks, Ava DuVernay. https://t.co/DFBLVWhiJj
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) March 1, 2019
Netflix made waves this year, by winning three Oscars for its foreign language drama "Roma."
In a letter obtained by Variety, the DOJ reportedly raised concerns that the possible new rules could violate anti-trust laws.
An academy spokesperson told the entertainment industry publication the group has "responded accordingly" to the DOJ letter.