In a landmark shift for one of the entertainment world's most prestigious nights, the Oscars ceremony is set to abandon traditional broadcast television for a global streaming future. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with YouTube, which will become the new home for Hollywood's biggest awards from 2029.
A New Digital Era for the Academy Awards
The comprehensive deal grants YouTube exclusive global rights to the Oscars for a four-year period, running from 2029 through to 2033. This move represents a seismic change in how audiences worldwide will access the annual celebration of cinematic achievement. The partnership extends far beyond the main ceremony itself.
The agreement includes rights to broadcast the iconic red carpet arrivals, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive access to the prestigious Governors Ball. Furthermore, YouTube will become the platform for a wide array of year-round Academy programming. This encompasses the Governors Awards, the live nominations announcement, the Nominees Luncheon, and the Student Academy Awards. The deal also covers Academy member interviews, filmmaker discussions, educational film programmes, and official podcasts.
Driving Global Access and Inspiring New Audiences
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership's potential to reach a vast international audience. "The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible," they said. This aligns with the Academy's recent efforts to diversify its voting membership, where international voters now constitute 21% of the total body.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the platform's ambition to honour the event's history while engaging future generations. He stated the partnership aims to "inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy."
The End of a Broadcast Era and Industry Trends
This historic transition marks the end of a long-standing relationship with linear television in the United States. ABC, which has broadcast the ceremony for over half a century, will air its final Oscars in 2028—coinciding with the awards' centennial celebration. An ABC spokesperson acknowledged the change, stating, "We look forward to the next three telecasts... and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success."
The move follows a broader industry trend of major awards shows migrating to streaming platforms. In 2023, Netflix acquired the rights to the Screen Actors Guild Awards (now the Actor Awards), shifting them from broadcast to a streaming-only model. The Oscars deal with YouTube, however, represents the most significant shift of its kind for a marquee awards event.
The announcement comes after ABC reported a slight ratings increase for the 2024 ceremony, which drew 19.7 million viewers and was dominated by wins for Sean Baker's comedy-drama Anora. Looking ahead, the Academy has confirmed that next year's ceremony will feature the inaugural Oscar for casting, with nominations to be announced in January.
