Oscars Shift to YouTube in 2029
- The Academy Awards will leave ABC and move exclusively to YouTube starting in 2029, marking a major change for one of television’s most prominent events.
- The deal gives YouTube global streaming rights through 2033, including all associated Academy programming.
- ABC will continue broadcasting the ceremony until 2028, which will coincide with the 100th Oscars.
A Historic Move to Streaming
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the Oscars will transition from broadcast television to YouTube beginning in 2029. ABC, which has aired the ceremony for most of its history, will retain rights through the 2028 centennial edition. YouTube will then become the global home for the awards, covering everything from red‑carpet events to nominations announcements. The agreement marks the first time a major awards show among the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Tonys will fully abandon traditional TV.
Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership will expand global access to the organization’s programming. They emphasized that YouTube’s reach aligns with the Academy’s international mission. The platform’s audience of roughly 2 billion viewers offers a scale unmatched by broadcast networks. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Expanding Access Through YouTube
The Oscars will stream free worldwide on YouTube, with additional availability for YouTube TV subscribers. Multiple audio tracks and closed captioning will be offered to support a broad international audience. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the partnership honors the Oscars’ legacy while opening the event to new generations of viewers. He described the awards as a cultural institution that continues to influence global storytelling.
ABC acknowledged the end of its long‑running association with the ceremony. The network noted that it has been the Oscars’ primary home since 1961, aside from a brief period in the 1970s. Executives said they look forward to broadcasting the next three ceremonies, including the milestone 2028 edition. They also wished the Academy continued success as it transitions to a new platform.
Changing Viewing Habits and Industry Trends
The shift reflects broader changes in how audiences consume entertainment. The 2025 Oscars drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC, making it one of the year’s largest broadcasts despite being far below the ratings peak of 55 million in 1999. Younger audiences increasingly favor streaming platforms, and YouTube remains the most‑watched service among them. Nielsen data from November showed YouTube accounting for 12.9% of all TV and streaming consumption, ahead of Netflix’s 8.3%.
The Academy selected YouTube over competitors such as Netflix and NBCUniversal’s Peacock, prioritizing reach over established production infrastructure. The decision underscores the growing influence of digital platforms in major cultural events. It also signals a shift in how legacy institutions adapt to evolving media landscapes. The move may encourage other award shows to reconsider their distribution strategies.
The Oscars’ migration to YouTube mirrors a broader trend in live event broadcasting, where digital platforms increasingly compete with traditional networks for marquee programming. Sports leagues, music festivals and political events have all experimented with streaming‑first models. Analysts note that YouTube’s global accessibility could reshape how international audiences engage with the Oscars. The transition may also influence future negotiations between content creators and streaming platforms as viewing habits continue to evolve.
