In a significant shift for Hollywood, the Academy Awards will stream exclusively on YouTube beginning in 2029.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that it has entered into a multi-year agreement granting YouTube exclusive global rights to broadcast the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, traditionally held in March – with the next ceremony slated for March 15 – have aired on ABC for half a century. From 2029, the awards show will be available live and free of charge on YouTube.
This development represents another major upheaval in Hollywood, which is currently navigating studio acquisitions, mergers, and substantial production budget reductions.
“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 – which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community,” stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor.
While viewership of the awards show has generally declined over the decades, 2025 saw a slight increase, attributed to a significant number of younger viewers streaming the ceremony on mobile devices and computers.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described the Oscars as “one of our essential cultural institutions” in a statement, adding that the partnership with the Academy would “inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
ABC, the broadcast home of the awards since 1976, expressed its anticipation for “the next three telecasts” it will continue to host.
This move coincides with Warner Bros Discovery’s recommendation on Wednesday that its shareholders reject a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance in favor of a rival offer from streaming giant Netflix.
Both options were viewed unfavorably within an industry facing significant cutbacks in recent years. Like major studios, cable networks have struggled as audiences increasingly choose streaming services.
YouTube securing the rights to the Academy Awards further underscores the growing reliance on streaming platforms.
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