The Academy Awards will move from broadcast television to YouTube starting in 2029, ending a decades-long run on ABC in a landmark shift for one of television’s most prestigious annual events.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed on Wednesday that ABC will continue airing the Oscars through 2028, which will also mark the ceremony’s 100th anniversary, according to AP.
From 2029 to 2033, YouTube will hold worldwide streaming rights, becoming the primary platform for the Oscars and related programming.
The agreement covers the live ceremony as well as associated events, including the red-carpet show, the Governors Awards and the nominations announcement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” Academy chief executive Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement.
They said the partnership would expand global access to the Academy’s work and benefit its members and the wider film community.
Under the new arrangement, the Oscars will stream for free globally on YouTube and on YouTube TV, with multiple language audio options and closed captioning.
YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan said the partnership would broaden the ceremony’s reach while preserving its legacy.
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honouring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” Mohan said. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of film lovers.”
The move marks the first time one of the four major US awards shows — the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Tonys — has fully left broadcast television. It places one of the most-watched non-NFL live television events on Google-owned YouTube, which reaches about 2 billion users worldwide.
ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, has served as the primary home of the Oscars for most of the ceremony’s history.
The awards were first televised by NBC in 1953 before ABC acquired the rights in 1961.
Apart from a brief return to NBC between 1971 and 1975, the ceremony has remained on ABC ever since.
The 2025 Academy Awards drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC, slightly up from the previous year, but far below the ceremony’s peak.
In 1999, more than 55 million viewers tuned in to watch Titanic win best picture.
In choosing YouTube over streaming rivals such as Netflix or Peacock, the Academy prioritised global reach, particularly among younger audiences.
According to Nielsen, YouTube accounted for 12.9 per cent of total television and streaming consumption in November, compared with Netflix’s 8.3 per cent.