Jimmy Kimmel to host Oscars for first time

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Late night talk show star Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for the first time, according to reports Monday.

Kimmel, 49, will host the 2017 Oscars on Feb. 26 on ABC, a representative for the comedian told CNN. The news also was confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter.

The Oscars take place at the the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, near where his TV show, also on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live is taped.

Kimmel has regularly hosted special episodes of his show after the Oscars.

Kimmel hosted the Emmy Awards in 2012 and 2016 on ABC at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. He also was the host of the American Music Awards five times and the 2007 ESPYS. His late-night show premiered on 2003, and is the longest running on network television.

Chris Rock hosted the 2016 Academy Awards, which drew 34.3 million viewers, an 11-year low.

Last month, Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd were announced as producers of the 89th Oscars.

In August, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences signed a new deal with ABC for about $75 million a year to broadcast the Oscars until 2028.