Once a year, Variety gathers a constellation of women whose influence spans film, politics, activism, and philanthropy — and on September 28, 2022, that gathering opens its doors wider than ever before. Through a livestreamed pre-show partnership with DIRECTV, the Power of Women red carpet becomes accessible to anyone with an internet connection, not merely those holding an invitation. In honoring figures like Oprah Winfrey, Malala Yousafzai, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, the event asks a quiet but persistent question: what does it mean to witness power, and who deserves to witness it?
Variety, DIRECTV to livestream Power of Women red carpet with Oprah, Clinton sisters
Opening the red carpet to millions of screens at once
Mark
So this is a livestream of a red carpet event. Why does that matter enough to announce?
Mimi
Because Variety Power of Women is their flagship event for celebrating women's leadership, and they're opening it up beyond the people who can actually be there. That's a real shift.
Luke
But it's just the pre-show, right? Not the full event?
Mimi
Correct. The "On the Carpet" segment—the arrivals and red carpet moments—that's what's being streamed. The main event itself stays in-person.
Mark
Who's actually going to watch a red carpet livestream?
Mimi
People interested in these honorees, people who follow entertainment and philanthropy, people who want to see Hillary Clinton and Oprah in the same room. It's not a niche audience.
Luke
The source doesn't say how many people are expected to watch or what the viewership goals are. We're assuming interest based on the names, but there's no data there.
Mimi
Fair. But the fact that DIRECTV is paying to sponsor it suggests they believe there's an audience worth reaching.
Mark
What's DIRECTV getting out of this?
Mimi
Brand association with women's leadership and influence. They're positioning themselves as a company that supports that message.
Luke
The quote from their advertising officer mentions women have been important to DIRECTV since 1994, but there's no detail about what that actually means or how many women are in leadership there.
Mimi
It's a corporate statement, not an investigative claim. It's what they want to say about themselves.
Mark
So when is this happening?
Mimi
September 28, 6:45 p.m. Pacific time. The honorees are Oprah, Ava DuVernay, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Malala, and Elizabeth Olsen.
Le Pouls
- An event historically confined to invitation-only rooms is now streaming live at 6:45 p.m. PT on September 28 across Variety.com, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube — a deliberate rupture of exclusivity.
- The honoree list — Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, and Elizabeth Olsen — creates a rare convergence of entertainment, politics, and global activism on a single red carpet.
- Presenters including Sandra Oh, Quinta Brunson, and Kathryn Hahn add further cultural weight, while Halsey's opening performance signals that the evening is as much celebration as ceremony.
- Variety editors Angelique Jackson and Emily Longeretta anchor the pre-show from the carpet, with studio commentary from Marc Malkin and Elizabeth Wagmeister, giving the livestream a structured, journalistic backbone.
- For DIRECTV, the sponsorship is framed as institutional values made visible — a company publicly aligning its brand with women's leadership at a moment when such alignment carries both cultural and commercial meaning.
Once a year, Variety gathers a constellation of women whose influence spans film, politics, activism, and philanthropy — and on September 28, 2022, that gathering opens its doors wider than ever before. Through a livestreamed pre-show partnership with DIRECTV, the Power of Women red carpet becomes accessible to anyone with an internet connection, not merely those holding an invitation. In honoring figures like Oprah Winfrey, Malala Yousafzai, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, the event asks a quiet but persistent question: what does it mean to witness power, and who deserves to witness it?
On September 28, Variety and DIRECTV will open the red carpet of the annual Power of Women event to anyone watching online. The pre-show, titled "On the Carpet" and streaming at 6:45 p.m. Pacific time, will be available on Variety.com and across the publication's social media channels — a deliberate expansion of what has long been an intimate, invitation-only affair.
This year's honorees bring together an unusually broad range of influence: Oprah Winfrey and filmmaker Ava DuVernay represent the heights of entertainment and storytelling; Hillary and Chelsea Clinton carry the weight of political legacy and public service; Malala Yousafzai arrives as a Nobel laureate and global voice for education; and actress Elizabeth Olsen rounds out a group defined by both visibility and impact. Presenters including Kathryn Hahn, Sandra Oh, Quinta Brunson, and Diane Guerrero will add their own prominence to the proceedings, and Halsey will open the evening with a special musical performance.
Hosting the pre-show from the carpet will be Variety senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson and senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta, with Marc Malkin and Elizabeth Wagmeister providing live commentary from Variety's studio headquarters. The dual-location format gives the broadcast both the immediacy of the arrivals and the context of seasoned cultural journalists.
For DIRECTV, the partnership is an expression of institutional identity — the company's chief advertising sales officer noted that women have shaped the organization since its 1994 founding. For Variety, the livestream is a structural statement: that celebrating powerful women should not itself be a privilege reserved for the powerful few.
Variety and DIRECTV are bringing the red carpet directly into living rooms across the country. On September 28, the two companies will livestream the pre-show coverage of Variety's Power of Women event, an annual gathering that honors women making significant contributions to media, entertainment, and philanthropy. The broadcast, titled "On the Carpet" and powered by DIRECTV, begins at 6:45 p.m. Pacific time and will be available on Variety.com as well as the publication's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels.
This year's honorees represent a cross-section of influence and impact. Oprah Winfrey and filmmaker Ava DuVernay will walk the carpet alongside Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton. Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Prize-winning education activist, and actress Elizabeth Olsen round out the group being recognized. The evening will also feature presenters including Kathryn Hahn, Sandra Oh, Quinta Brunson, and Diane Guerrero, each bringing their own prominence in entertainment to the proceedings.
The pre-show itself will be hosted by Angelique Jackson, a senior entertainment writer at Variety, and Emily Longeretta, the publication's senior TV features editor. They will guide viewers through the arrivals and moments on the red carpet, with additional commentary from Marc Malkin, Variety's senior culture and events editor, and Elizabeth Wagmeister, a senior correspondent, both broadcasting live from Variety's headquarters studio. The evening will open with a special musical performance by Halsey, setting the tone for what organizers describe as an intimate gathering of some of the world's most powerful women working in media and entertainment.
For DIRECTV, the partnership represents a continuation of the company's commitment to supporting women in leadership. Amy Leifer, DIRECTV's chief advertising sales officer, noted that women have played crucial roles in the company's operations since its founding in 1994, and the company sees the sponsorship as an opportunity to highlight women making meaningful contributions across industries. Dea Lawrence, Variety's chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, emphasized that the livestream partnership expands the reach of what is typically an exclusive, in-person event, allowing a broader audience to witness the celebration of these honorees and their achievements.
The decision to stream the pre-show reflects a broader shift in how major media events are being distributed. Rather than confining coverage to those who can attend in person or those with access to premium cable packages, Variety and DIRECTV are making the event accessible across multiple digital platforms simultaneously. This approach democratizes what has historically been an invitation-only affair, letting anyone with an internet connection tune in to see the arrivals, hear from the honorees, and experience the energy of the evening as it unfolds.
Citations marquantes
Women have held leadership roles and made an indelible impact on DIRECTV's business from our very humble beginning in 1994.— Amy Leifer, DIRECTV chief advertising sales officer
We're thrilled to bring this special event to a wider audience, thanks to DIRECTV.— Dea Lawrence, Variety COO and CMO
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