The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will move the Oscars to YouTube starting in 2029, ending ABC’s decades-long run as the ceremony’s broadcast home.

According to a press release, the multi-year agreement grants YouTube exclusive global rights to stream the Academy Awards from the 101st ceremony in 2029 through 2033. The Oscars will be available free to YouTube’s two billion viewers worldwide and to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States.

“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,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “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.”

Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, said, “The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry. 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 will continue broadcasting the annual ceremony through 2028, which marks the 100th Oscars. The Walt Disney Co.-owned network has aired the Oscars for most of the event’s television history, acquiring the rights in 1961, except for a period between 1971 and 1975, when NBC aired the show.

“ABC has been the proud home to The Oscars for more than half a century,” the network said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show’s centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success.”

Expanded Content Distribution

The partnership extends beyond the main ceremony. YouTube will host red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programs, and podcasts on the Oscars YouTube channel.

YouTube will provide closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages to serve the Academy’s global audience.

Industry Context

The deal represents the first time one of the four major American entertainment awards (the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys) has completely left broadcast television, according to the Associated Press. The Academy selected YouTube over other streaming platforms, including Netflix and NBC Universal’s Peacock.

Nielsen data shows YouTube accounted for 12.9% of all television and streaming content consumed in November, with Netflix ranking second at 8.3% market share.

The 2025 Academy Awards drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC, a slight increase from the previous year. While this remains one of the largest annual TV broadcasts, it represents less than half of peak Oscar ratings; in 1999, more than 55 million viewers watched “Titanic” win best picture.

Additional Academy Initiatives

The partnership includes Google Arts & Culture providing digital access to select Academy Museum exhibitions and programs. According to the organizations, the initiative will help digitize components of the Academy Collection, which contains more than 52 million items and represents the largest film-related collection globally.

The Academy’s domestic and international partnerships with Disney ABC and Disney’s Buena Vista International will continue through the 100th Oscars in 2028. 

Financial terms of the YouTube agreement were not disclosed.

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