As the official kick-off to awards season, and as one of the leading voices in entertainment news, E! News set out to transform the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards Nominations Announcement into a must-watch, multi-platform live event.
On December 5, 2025 at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET, E! News delivered real-time coverage of the nominations, simulcasting across E! News, E! Entertainment, USA Network, and Critics Choice YouTube channel to a combined audiences of over 5.5M subscribers.
Our objective was to elevate a traditional nominations announcement into a premium digital livestream experience. Rather than simply listing the nominees, we created an immersive, high-production, appointment viewing moment that reflected the prestige of the awards themselves.
By blending digital-first accessibility with live television distribution, we ensured fans, industry insiders, and global audiences could tune in wherever they consume content: streaming, linear, or social. The goal was not only to inform viewers instantly but to position E! News at the center of awards season conversation.
To execute a seamless, cross-platform launch to awards season, E! News produced a polished, ten-minute livestream from its Los Angeles studio. The program was hosted by E! talent, Keltie Knight and Erin Lim Rhodes, trusted voices with deep awards expertise and strong audience recognition. Their live delivery balanced authority with excitement, showcasing both credibility and polish.
Distribution was central to our strategy. The livestream was simulcast across E! News, E! Entertainment, USA Network, and the Critics Choice official YouTube and premiered live on the E! and USA networks while simultaneously directing the audience to an E! Online article with the full list of nominations. This multi-channel simulcast ensured audiences could access the announcement in real time, regardless of viewing preference.
From a production standpoint, the livestream was designed to feel elevated and eventized. Custom graphics packages, an original show open, dynamic nominee animations and movie and television category-specific bumpers were created specifically for the nominations reveal.
Timing was crucial. Our team coordinated closely with the Critics Choice Association to ensure embargo alignment, technical precision, and real-time rollout across platforms, as accuracy and immediacy were essential to success.
By combining E!’s modern and fast-paced aesthetic, digital distribution and press amplification, with mentions from The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Forbes, E! News transformed the nominations announcement into a true media moment, generating exciting buzz ahead of the January 4th, 2026 awards ceremony.
The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards Nominations Announcement livestream delivered 884,000 total views across platforms as of February 2026, with more than 35,000 minutes consumed, demonstrating strong cross-platform engagement for a live announcement event.
Beyond viewership, the simulcast successfully positioned E! News at the center of early awards season coverage, driving immediate conversation across social platforms and reinforcing E!’s authority in breaking entertainment news.
The announcement also received significant press coverage in Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety, further amplifying reach and underscoring the cultural impact of the nominations reveal.
Most importantly, the livestream proved that audiences continue to show up for live, premium event programming, especially when delivered with polish, immediacy, and seamless accessibility across platforms.
We are proud to submit the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards Nominations Announcement for consideration at the 18th Annual Shorty Awards. Thank you for your time and consideration.
