Mar 21, 2003/ FW/ --- According to a survey recently released by New Media Strategies, likely Oscar™ viewers indicates that Americans want the Academy Awards, slated for March 23, to proceed on schedule even while U.S. troops are at war with Iraq.

The survey, conducted by New Media Strategies (NMS), an online market intelligence and viral marketing company whose clients include many of the top film studios, found that 87% of respondents wanted the show to go on even during war with Iraq. The company surveyed over 2,500 probable Oscar viewers in the most popular entertainment and Oscar™ Internet communities.

"This is a true testament to the American spirit," said New Media Strategies CEO Pete Snyder. "While nearly everyone is concerned about our troops, in post-September 11th America, people strongly feel that we all must continue living our lives. Our survey shows that the organizers' decision to go forward with the broadcast is right in step with American sentiment."

When NMS examined top concerns for those who plan to watch the Oscars(TM), the company found that viewers in the survey were about 30 times more concerned about "protest outbursts by celebrities" than they were about a "direct terrorist attack on the Kodak Theater," the venue for the Academy Awards ceremony.

"I just pray that celebrity rants don't make the whole industry look like we are anti-American ... this just isn't the right forum for that kind of stuff," stated one likely Oscar™ watcher who works in the entertainment Industry.

When asked, "If the Academy Awards go on as planned while U.S. troops are at war in Iraq, what are your biggest concerns about the event?" NMS found that top concerns included celebrity protest "outbursts" (64%), news update interruptions (23%), "a marathon telecast" due to time overruns (6%), a "direct terrorist attack" (2%) and various other responses (5%).