The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, are embarking on a historic digital transformation. Starting in 2029, the prestigious annual ceremony will exclusively livestream on YouTube, concluding its five-decade partnership with the ABC network. This landmark multi-year agreement, extending through 2033, promises to deliver the world’s most celebrated film awards to an unprecedented global audience, freely accessible to over 2 billion people.
This pivotal shift reflects the evolving landscape of entertainment consumption. It marks a significant strategic move for both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and YouTube. The collaboration aims to revitalize the Oscars’ reach, foster new engagement opportunities, and solidify its place in the digital era.
A New Era for the Oscars: Breaking from Tradition
For the first time since 1976, the Academy Awards will no longer call ABC home. The Walt Disney-owned network will broadcast the 2026 and 2027 ceremonies, culminating with the landmark 100th-anniversary show in 2028. After that, the 101st Oscars in 2029 will inaugurate the YouTube era. This decision highlights a growing trend among major events to migrate from traditional broadcast television to global streaming platforms.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized the strategic importance of this YouTube partnership. In a recent statement, they articulated a vision to reach “the largest worldwide audience possible.” This collaboration is designed to leverage YouTube’s immense global presence, offering innovative avenues for fan interaction while preserving the Oscars’ storied legacy. The Academy aims to celebrate cinema, inspire future filmmakers, and provide unparalleled access to film history on a truly international scale.
Why the Shift? Reaching a Global Audience and Modernizing Reach
The move to YouTube is largely driven by the Academy’s desire to expand its global footprint and adapt to changing viewership habits. In recent years, the Oscars have experienced a decline in linear television ratings. Audiences are increasingly migrating to online streaming platforms for their entertainment. While the 2025 Oscars, simulcast on Disney’s Hulu, saw a five-year high of 19.7 million US viewers, this figure remains significantly below its 1998 peak of 57 million.
YouTube, with its vast reach and established creator ecosystem, presents a compelling solution. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan hailed the Oscars as an “essential cultural institution.” He believes this partnership will inspire new generations of creativity and film enthusiasts worldwide, all while honoring the awards’ rich heritage. The platform’s commitment includes free livestreaming, closed captioning, and multi-language audio tracks, ensuring accessibility for its diverse global viewership. U.S. YouTube TV subscribers will also gain additional access to the live event.
Beyond the Main Event: A Comprehensive Digital Hub
The YouTube deal extends far beyond the annual awards telecast. This multifaceted global partnership is set to transform YouTube into the exclusive digital home for a wide array of Academy events and content throughout the year.
Viewers can anticipate:
Live red carpet preshows and exclusive behind-the-scenes content during the main ceremony.
The highly anticipated Oscar nominations announcement.
Prestigious events like the Governors Awards, where honorary Oscars are presented.
The exclusive Oscar Nominees Luncheon, traditionally held off-camera.
The Student Academy Awards and the Scientific and Technical Awards ceremonies.
Interviews with Academy members and prominent filmmakers.
- Educational film programs and dedicated podcasts.
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Preserving Film History with Google Arts & Culture
A significant component of this partnership involves Google Arts & Culture. This initiative will support digital access to select exhibitions and programs from the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Crucially, it will also facilitate the digitization of portions of the Academy Collection. Recognized as the world’s largest film-related archive, this collection boasts over 52 million items. The goal is to establish a globally accessible digital hub for film enthusiasts, making cinematic artifacts available worldwide for the first time. This initiative extends the Oscar brand far beyond the annual awards show, creating a permanent, interactive resource for film lovers.
The Business Behind the Move: An Evolving Media Landscape
While no financial details of the YouTube deal have been publicly disclosed, the shift highlights broader economic realities in the media industry. The Oscars, despite their prestige, had become an “expensive and depreciating asset” for Disney/ABC due to declining ratings. Sources indicate ABC was unwilling to “overpay” to retain rights for a property that was no longer the significant moneymaker it once was. Frustrations also existed regarding the Academy’s reluctance to modernize the show, such as adjusting the number of categories presented during the live telecast.
For the Academy, diversifying revenue streams beyond traditional broadcast rights is a key objective. Leveraging YouTube’s global presence allows for more aggressive sponsorship deals with international brands. This strategy aligns with organizations like the International Olympic Committee, which partner with global giants such as Rolex and Visa. Google’s advertising executives emphasize the power of creators and their engaged communities to drive significant brand outcomes for advertisers, a valuable asset YouTube brings to the table.
This move underscores the deepening influence of the tech industry within Hollywood. Streaming now surpasses broadcast and cable in overall TV viewing share. YouTube, owned by Google, accounted for nearly 13% of all television viewing in October, according to Nielsen data, surpassing Disney’s combined networks. YouTube TV is also rapidly growing, projected to become the largest pay-TV service in the U.S. within the next year. This strategic move for the Oscars is a testament to YouTube’s ambition to become “the most powerful platform on earth,” as stated by CEO Neal Mohan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific content will YouTube stream as part of the new Oscars deal?
The partnership with YouTube from 2029 will bring a comprehensive suite of Academy content beyond just the main awards ceremony. This includes live red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes footage, the Oscar nominations announcement, the Governors Awards, the Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, and the Scientific and Technical Awards. Additionally, YouTube will host Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programs, and podcasts, establishing itself as a year-round digital hub for film enthusiasts.
How can viewers watch the Academy Awards on YouTube from 2029, and will it be free?
Starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029, the Academy Awards will be available for free livestreaming globally on YouTube. To enhance accessibility, the platform will offer closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages. For viewers in the United States, YouTube TV subscribers will also have access to the exclusive coverage, ensuring widespread availability across various viewing preferences.
What impact will the Oscars’ move to YouTube have on traditional television broadcasts?
The Oscars’ transition to YouTube signifies a major shift in the media landscape, reflecting the ongoing decline of linear television viewership. For traditional broadcasters like ABC, losing a tentpole live event like the Oscars represents a significant challenge. This move could signal a potential exodus of other mass-audience properties to streaming platforms, forcing networks to re-evaluate their content strategies and prioritize properties that can still command broad linear audiences, such as major sports leagues. It underscores the increasing importance of digital platforms in reaching and engaging global audiences.
The Future of Awards Shows: A Digital Horizon
The Oscars’ groundbreaking move to YouTube from 2029 through 2033 is more than just a change in broadcaster; it’s a strategic pivot towards a digital-first future. By embracing YouTube’s immense global reach and innovative engagement opportunities, the Academy aims to revitalize its iconic awards show, inspire new generations of film lovers, and preserve cinematic history on an unprecedented scale. This shift reflects a broader industry trend, setting a precedent for how prestigious events will connect with audiences in the evolving entertainment ecosystem. The era of the digital Oscars promises to be globally accessible, dynamic, and deeply integrated into the world of online content.
