The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struck a partnership with YouTube granting the video-streaming platform exclusive rights to broadcast the Oscars from 2029 to 2033. This deal will enable over two billion viewers globally and YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S. to access the prestigious awards ceremony. In addition to the Oscars broadcast, viewers can also enjoy behind-the-scenes content, red carpet coverage, Governors Awards, and Oscars nominee announcements on the Oscars YouTube channel. The content will be available in multiple languages with closed captioning. The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear if the show will be accessible on traditional broadcast TV channels.
Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase the academy’s work to a vast global audience. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the partnership as a means to inspire creatives worldwide while honoring the Oscars’ rich legacy. The Disney ABC broadcast of the Oscars will continue until the 100th edition in 2028, along with the academy’s international partnership with Disney’s Buena Vista International.
This groundbreaking deal signals a significant shift in the entertainment industry amid the ongoing transition to streaming platforms and the competitive landscape, including the recent bid for Warner Bros. by Paramount. The Oscars have a long history with ABC as their broadcast home, except for a brief period in the 1970s when NBC aired the show. ABC expressed pride in hosting the Oscars for over fifty years and wished the Academy continued success.
The 2025 Oscars achieved a five-year viewership high, with 19.7 million total viewers, as reported by Disney. The awards were digitally streamed for the first time on Hulu, though some viewers encountered technical difficulties, including site outages before the best picture winner was revealed.