In brief
The Academy Awards will leave ABC, where they have aired for 50 years, to stream exclusively on YouTube beginning in 2029. The multi-year agreement is designed to expand the Oscars' global reach and cater to a younger audience. The move comes amid significant changes in the film and television industry, pointing to an ongoing transition towards streaming platforms.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, the latest big change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for a half-century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on YouTube.
It's another big shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with steep production cuts.
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, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor stated.
Viewership of the awards show has declined over decades, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with significant interest from younger viewers engaging through mobile devices.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan characterized the Oscars as one of our essential cultural institutions, emphasizing that the partnership aims to inspire a new generation of creativity and film enthusiasts while honoring the legacy of the awards.
ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, expressed anticipation for the remaining three telecasts they will still host.
This transition occurs concurrently with Warner Bros Discovery's recommendation to reject a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, opting instead for a bid from streaming giant Netflix.
Both scenarios are viewed as undesirable for an industry facing significant cuts as viewers increasingly move to streaming services. YouTube's acquisition of the Academy Awards rights underscores the continuing trend towards streaming platforms.
