The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube from 2029, marking one of the most significant shifts in the ceremony’s long history and underscoring Hollywood’s accelerating move towards digital platforms.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year agreement granting YouTube exclusive global streaming rights to the Oscars through 2033. Under the deal, the awards ceremony will be broadcast live and free on YouTube, ending more than five decades of television coverage on ABC.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March next year, have aired on ABC since 1976. While the network will continue to host the next three ceremonies, the transition in 2029 will formally move the event away from traditional broadcast television.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership reflects the organisation’s global outlook and evolving audience. “The Academy is an international organisation, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible,” they said, adding that the move would benefit both Academy members and the wider film community.
Viewership of the Oscars has steadily declined over the years, although the 2025 ceremony recorded a modest increase. A notable share of that audience consisted of younger viewers watching on mobile phones and computers, a trend that appears to have influenced the Academy’s decision.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described the Oscars as “one of our essential cultural institutions,” saying the partnership would “inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
ABC acknowledged the change, stating that it looks forward to broadcasting the remaining ceremonies under its current agreement.
The announcement comes amid broader upheaval in Hollywood, including studio mergers, takeover bids, and deep production cuts. As audiences continue to shift away from cable television towards streaming services, YouTube’s acquisition of the Oscars further signals the industry’s growing reliance on digital platforms to reach global audiences.
Melissa Enoch
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