Oscars to Stream Globally on YouTube in Historic Move

The Academy Awards, one of the world's most-watched annual events, is leaving traditional television. Starting in 2029, the Oscars ceremony will be broadcast live and exclusively on the global streaming platform YouTube.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, announced the landmark shift this week. The move ends a decades-long broadcast partnership with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976. The current contract with ABC will run through the 2028 show, after which the exclusive rights will transfer to YouTube [28616][28793][29819].

This decision marks the most significant change in how the awards are broadcast in over half a century. Industry analysts see it as a direct response to declining television ratings and the accelerating dominance of digital streaming. By partnering with YouTube, a free platform available in most countries, the Academy aims to reach a broader, younger, and more international audience [29554][28685][28709].

Specific financial terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed. However, the Academy confirmed that YouTube will hold exclusive global streaming rights from 2029 through at least 2033. The platform is expected to become the central hub for all Oscars content, including the main ceremony and red-carpet coverage [28709][29085][29264].

The shift underscores a broader industry trend where major live events are increasingly migrating from linear television to streaming services. For viewers, the change could make the Oscars more accessible, requiring only an internet connection rather than a cable or satellite television subscription [28817][29547].

Representatives for the Academy and YouTube stated that more details about the format and production of the 2029 broadcast will be released in the coming years.