Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- frustratingly / ˈfrʌs treɪ t̬ɪŋ li / (adv.) – in a manner that makes someone annoyed or disappointed, especially when something is not happening according to plan
Example:The flight was frustratingly delayed for three hours.
- predictably / prɪˈdɪk tə bli / (adv.) – in a way that happens as expected
Example:The movie ended predictably, with the hero saving everyone.
- ensue / ɛnˈsu / (v.) – to happen as a result of something
Example:When the fire alarm rang, panic ensued.
- replay / ˈriˌpleɪ / (n.) – a recording of an event or a live show that can be watched again after it has happened
Example:They watched the replay of the basketball championship game the next day.
- bet big on (something) / bɛt bɪg ɒn / (idiom) – to put or place a lot of money, effort, or trust into something believing it will be successful or important in the future
Example:The city is betting big on tourism to help improve its economy.
Article
Read the text below.
Sunday night, March 2 marked Hulu’s first time airing the Oscars (or the Academy Awards) live. But its Academy Awards debut ended on a chaotic and frustratingly premature note.
Hulu’s livestream cut off in the final moments of the show—with two major award categories, best actress and best picture, still to be announced because of a scheduling system issue. Those viewing the awards ceremony on Hulu instead saw an error code message that stated the event was over.
Viewer outrage, predictably, ensued online. Fans, including those throwing Oscar-viewing parties, eagerly awaited the final, pivotal moments of Hollywood’s biggest night. Hulu viewers missed Mikey Madison and “Anora” winning the night’s titles for both best actress and best picture in real-time.
The Hulu stream also had a rough start, with a few users reporting issues logging on to the platform due to another technical problem. For some, that meant missing the show’s musical intro performed by “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Disney, which has run Hulu since 2019, apologized to viewers.
“Yesterday evening, we experienced technical and live stream issues on Hulu which impacted some Oscars viewers,” the company wrote in a statement sent to The Associated Press on March 3. “We apologize for the experience.”
Disney added that a “full replay” of the event is now available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, the streamers’ bundled offering. That replay includes the final moments of Sunday night’s show.
Hulu’s foray into the Oscars arrives as more streaming platforms are betting big on live programming of prominent events—from a handful of awards shows and pop culture moments to major sports matchups like the Super Bowl.
But some have gone smoother than others. And Hulu’s stumble on March 2 was not the first among similar endeavors from today’s biggest streaming platforms.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Disney apologized for Hulu’s technical problems during the Oscars. Do you think a simple apology is enough when companies make mistakes, or should they offer something more? Why do you say so? Discuss.
- Have you ever experienced bad service from a company? How do companies in your country usually respond to complaints about bad service? Are you satisfied with their response? Why or why not? Discuss.
Discussion B
- When Hulu’s technical issues caused viewers to miss key Oscar announcements, frustrated fans quickly voiced their outrage online. How effective do you think social media is as a tool for viewers to voice complaints and demand responsibility from networks? Discuss.
- If this happened to you, would you express it online? Why or why not? Do you think complaining about issues like this online is the best way to handle them? What do you think it can actually solve? Discuss.
