Multi-part documentaries ineligible for Oscars in rules shake-up

Multi-part documentary series such as ESPN's O.J.: Made In America will be ineligible for the Oscars from next year, organisers said last Friday as part of a new list of awards rules.

O.J., which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Feature) this year, is an eight-hour documentary that was shown as a film with intermissions at major film festivals and limited theatres to qualify for Oscar contention.

It was also shown in five instalments on ABC and ESPN television networks.