The Oscars Transition Solely to YouTube in 2029

The Academy Awards will conclude their 50-year tenure on ABC and will transition to exclusive, complimentary streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, with the agreement lasting until 2033.

Michael Buckner/ Penske Media

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has declared that the Oscars will go solely to YouTube starting in 2029, marking a significant shift that signifies the conclusion of the broadcast television era. The conclusion of a renowned fifty-year collaboration with ABC results in the Google-owned platform acquiring exclusive global rights for a multi-year period extending till 2033. The event will be broadcast live and free to more than two billion users globally, marking the most significant increase in access in the Academy's century-long history.

The initiative, characterised by Academy CEO Bill Kramer as a “multifaceted global partnership,” seeks to counteract years of diminishing linear ratings by engaging consumers in their online environments. Beginning with the 101st Academy Awards, YouTube will serve as the primary platform for "all things Oscar," featuring the main ceremony, the red carpet, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, the Governors Awards, and the nominations announcement. The show will be available at no cost to U.S. viewers through the standard YouTube app and YouTube TV.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan emphasised the platform's capacity to "inspire a new generation of film enthusiasts" with creative engagement elements that traditional television cannot imitate. By eliminating paywalls and geographic restrictions, the Academy is leveraging YouTube's huge reach to establish the Oscars as a really global cultural institution. Although ABC will broadcast the 100th-anniversary milestone in 2028, the future of Hollywood's premier event is destined for the world's largest video stage.