YouTube has secured exclusive rights to stream the Oscars beginning in 2029, marking a major shift for one of television’s most iconic awards shows. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that the Google-owned platform outbid several contenders, including longtime broadcaster ABC.
YouTube’s first ceremony will be the 101st Academy Awards in 2029, with the deal running through 2033. ABC will continue to air the Oscars through 2028, closing out a broadcast run that began in 1961, aside from a brief period in the early 1970s. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
The move signals a landmark moment for live entertainment, as one of the industry’s biggest events transitions fully from broadcast television to streaming. The Oscars will be available live and free to more than 2 billion global viewers on YouTube, as well as to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States.
The shift comes as Oscar viewership has steadily declined over the years, falling from a peak of about 55 million viewers in 1998 to roughly 20 million in recent ceremonies. The Academy has increasingly explored digital platforms as a way to expand reach and reconnect with global audiences.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor in a joint statement. They noted that the partnership would help broaden access to Academy programming worldwide.
Beyond the awards ceremony itself, the deal includes red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Oscar nominations announcements, filmmaker and Academy member interviews, Governors Ball access, podcasts, and film education programs.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan called the Oscars “one of our essential cultural institutions,” adding that the partnership will help inspire a new generation of creators while preserving the show’s legacy.
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While streaming platforms have previously acquired rights to awards shows, such as Netflix’s deal with the SAG Awards, this marks the first time one of the four major awards shows (Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys) will leave broadcast television entirely in favor of streaming.
