YouTube will become the exclusive platform to stream the Academy Awards beginning in 2029, marking the end of ABC’s long history as the show’s broadcast home.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the decision on Wednesday, signaling a major change in how one of Hollywood’s biggest nights will reach audiences.
The first Oscars to stream on YouTube will be the 101st ceremony in 2029, and the agreement will remain in place through 2033. ABC will continue to air the awards show until 2028. The financial details of the deal have not been made public.
This move reflects a larger shift in how people watch live events. YouTube has steadily grown into a major player in television and live streaming, and the Oscars will now be available live and free to more than two billion users around the world. Viewers in the United States will also be able to watch the ceremony through YouTube TV.
The Academy’s decision comes at a time when Oscar viewership has been declining. The show drew about 55 million viewers at its peak in 1998, but recent ceremonies have attracted closer to 20 million viewers. By moving to YouTube, the Academy hopes to reach a younger and more global audience that increasingly watches content online rather than on traditional TV.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership with YouTube will help expand access to the Academy’s work worldwide. They described the deal as a way to bring the Oscars and other Academy programming to the largest possible audience.
The agreement goes beyond the main awards show. YouTube will also stream red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes footage, the Oscar nominations announcement, interviews with filmmakers and Academy members, and content from the Governors Ball. The platform will also host film education programs, podcasts, and other related content throughout the year.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the Oscars are an important cultural institution and that the partnership will help introduce the celebration of film to a new generation of viewers while respecting the event’s long history.
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Although streaming platforms have previously picked up awards shows, such as Netflix’s deal to stream the SAG Awards, this marks the first time one of the four major awards shows has moved entirely away from traditional broadcast television. The shift highlights how streaming is reshaping even the most established live events.
