California: The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube starting in 2029, marking a significant transformation in how Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremony reaches global audiences.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement granting YouTube exclusive worldwide rights to broadcast the Oscars through 2033. Under the deal, the awards ceremony will be streamed live and free on YouTube.
For over 50 years, the Oscars have been broadcast on ABC, which has held the broadcast rights since 1976. The 2028 ceremony will be among the final telecasts hosted by ABC, with the network stating it looks forward to producing the next three shows remaining under its current agreement.
Film’s biggest night is headed to @YouTube, starting 2029. pic.twitter.com/5ckm1JyBC7
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 17, 2025
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership reflects the organisation’s global outlook and evolving audience habits. They noted that streaming on YouTube will significantly expand access to the Academy’s work and better serve its international membership and the wider film community.
The move comes as Oscars viewership has declined over recent decades, although 2025 saw a modest rebound, driven largely by younger viewers watching on mobile phones and computers. The shift to YouTube is expected to strengthen engagement with digital-first audiences further.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described the Oscars as one of our essential cultural institutions, adding that the partnership aims to inspire a new generation of film lovers while preserving the ceremony’s historic legacy.
The announcement underscores broader changes across Hollywood, which is grappling with studio mergers, potential takeovers, and deep production cuts. On the same day, Warner Bros Discovery advised shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance in favour of a rival proposal from Netflix, highlighting the growing influence of streaming giants.
As traditional cable networks continue to lose viewers to digital platforms, YouTube’s acquisition of the Oscars’ streaming rights signals a continued shift toward online-first distribution models, reshaping the future of major entertainment events.
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