The Academy Awards will move exclusively to YouTube beginning in 2029, marking a major turning point for one of television’s longest-running broadcast events and signaling the growing dominance of digital platforms in live entertainment.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that it has entered a multiyear agreement with YouTube, granting the Google-owned platform global streaming rights to the Oscars from 2029 through 2033. ABC will continue to air the ceremony through 2028, including the 100th Academy Awards.
Under the new agreement, YouTube will become the central hub for the Oscars and related Academy programming. In addition to the annual ceremony, the platform will stream red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards, and the nominations announcement, among other events.
The Oscars will be available free worldwide on YouTube, with additional access through YouTube TV in the United States. The broadcasts will include closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages.
“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 CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement.
“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible—which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community.”
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The move makes the Oscars the first of the major American awards shows, which also include the Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys, to fully leave broadcast television. While other ceremonies have added streaming partners, none have abandoned network television entirely.
YouTube, which reaches an estimated 2 billion viewers globally, has increasingly positioned itself as a destination for live events. Neal Mohan, YouTube’s chief executive, described the deal as an opportunity to broaden the ceremony’s reach while preserving its identity.
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” Mohan said. “Partnering with the academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, has served for decades as the primary broadcast home of the Academy Awards. The network said it looks ahead to its remaining telecasts, including the centennial celebration in 2028.
The most recent Oscars ceremony drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC in 2025, a modest increase from the previous year but far below viewership levels seen during the show’s peak decades ago. The Academy has increasingly explored digital distribution as audience habits shift, particularly among younger viewers.
The first Oscars streamed on YouTube will be the 101st ceremony in 2029, ushering in a new chapter for Hollywood’s most recognizable awards show.