Oscars to Move From ABC to YouTube Streaming in 2029
The Academy Awards will shift to exclusive streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, marking a major change in how one of Hollywood’s most prestigious events reaches audiences worldwide.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year agreement granting YouTube global streaming rights to the Oscars from 2029 through 2033. Under the deal, the ceremony will be broadcast live and free on the platform.
The move will end a decades-long relationship with ABC, which has aired the Oscars since the 1970s. ABC will continue to televise the ceremony for the next three editions before the transition takes effect.
Academy leadership said the decision reflects the organisation’s growing international focus and the need to connect with a broader audience. Academy chief executive Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership would help extend the reach of the Oscars to viewers around the world while supporting the film community and Academy members.
The announcement comes amid significant shifts across Hollywood, as studios contend with mergers, ownership changes and sharp reductions in production spending. Traditional broadcast television has also struggled with declining viewership as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms.
While Oscar ratings have fallen over the years, the ceremony recorded a modest increase in 2025, driven in part by younger viewers watching on mobile devices and computers rather than traditional television sets.
YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan described the Oscars as a vital cultural institution, saying the partnership would help introduce the ceremony to a new generation of film fans while preserving its legacy.
The deal adds to signs that streaming platforms will play an even larger role in major live events, underscoring the continued shift away from conventional broadcast television as the entertainment industry adapts to changing viewing habits.
