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The Academy Awards will undergo one of the most dramatic transformations in their history, moving exclusively to YouTube beginning in 2029. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed on Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year agreement granting YouTube exclusive global streaming rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The deal brings an end to the ceremony’s long-standing broadcast relationship with ABC, which has aired the Oscars for nearly 50 years. Under the new arrangement, the awards show will stream live and free worldwide on YouTube, marking a major departure from traditional television distribution. The final Oscars broadcast on ABC is expected to air in 2028, with the first YouTube-exclusive ceremony planned for March 15, 2029.
Academy leadership framed the move as a necessary evolution in how audiences consume major cultural events. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership reflects the organization’s global outlook and its desire to reach the widest possible audience. They emphasized that streaming on YouTube would expand access for viewers worldwide while benefiting Academy members and the broader film community.
Oscars viewership has steadily declined over the past decade. All of this happened despite a modest rebound in 2025 driven largely by younger audiences watching on phones, laptops, and connected devices. The Oscars in March 2025 attracted 19.7 million viewers in the US, marking a five-year high, though it still pales in comparison to the show’s peak audience of 57 million back in 1998. This year’s ceremony also had the added bonus of streaming live on Hulu.
Industry analysts have long noted that the ceremony’s traditional television format struggled to resonate with digital-native viewers, making a platform like YouTube an increasingly logical destination.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan called the Oscars “one of our essential cultural institutions” and said the partnership would help inspire a new generation of filmmakers and film lovers while preserving the ceremony’s legacy.
ABC, which has broadcast the Oscars since the 1970s, acknowledged the transition and said it looks forward to airing the remaining ceremonies under its current agreement.
