The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, will move exclusively to YouTube starting in 2029, ending a nearly 50-year run on ABC and marking the first time one of the major awards shows fully abandons broadcast television for streaming.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on December 17, 2025, a multi-year deal granting YouTube exclusive global rights to the ceremony from the 101st Oscars in 2029 through at least 2033.
The live broadcast, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and access to events like the Governors Ball, will stream for free worldwide on YouTube's platform—reaching over 2 billion users—and will also be available to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States, with features like multilingual audio and closed captioning to enhance global accessibility.
This partnership extends beyond the main telecast to include other Academy programming, such as nominations announcements, the Governors Awards, nominees luncheon, Student Academy Awards, and educational content, all hosted on the official Oscars YouTube channel.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized the move's aim to reach a broader international audience, while YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted its potential to inspire younger film lovers.
The change reflects broader trends, as recent Oscars ratings hovered around 19-20 million viewers—far below peaks of over 50 million—prompting the Academy to prioritize streaming's scale over traditional broadcast deals.