Jimmy Kimmel will host the 89th Academy Awards, presiding over the Oscars ceremony for the first time.

Kimmel has been a regular awards host, having twice previously hosted the Emmy Awards, including in September.

The academy waited much later than usual to name a host for the February 26 ceremony and the lengthy search has perhaps been a product of increasing pressure on the broadcast.

Last year’s show was hosted by Chris Rock and was dominated by backlash over its second straight year of all-white acting nominees.

Its 34.3 million viewers marked an 11-year low for the US broadcast.

Whether late-night TV host Kimmel can spark a comeback will be a considerable test for the 49-year-old comedian.

His Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC drew a mere 11.3 million viewers, a new low.

This year’s Oscar favourites also do not appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards.

The top contenders – Moonlight, La La Land and Manchester By The Sea – have together totalled less than €15m at the US box office, though La La Land has not yet opened.

This year’s show is being produced by veteran producer Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, president of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Pearl Street Films. This is also their first time producing the Oscars.

– AP