The iconic Oscars broadcast will remain on ABC until 2028, culminating in the centennial celebration of the awards ceremony. However, a major shift will occur in 2029 when YouTube takes over the global streaming rights, extending its hold through 2033. This transition will make YouTube the central hub for everything related to the Oscars, from the glamorous red carpet and the Governors Awards to the much-anticipated Oscar nominations announcement.
Bill Kramer, the Academy’s chief executive, and Lynette Howell Taylor, the Academy president, expressed their enthusiasm about this new chapter. “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,” they stated. They emphasized the Academy’s international reach, noting that this partnership will allow them to connect with the largest global audience possible, benefiting both Academy members and the wider film community.
This move to YouTube marks a significant departure from traditional broadcast television for major award shows. While others have formed streaming partnerships, the Oscars are the first among the big four—the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys—to fully embrace this change. This transition places one of the most-watched non-NFL broadcasts into the hands of Google, with YouTube’s extensive reach of approximately 2 billion viewers worldwide.
âThe 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 â which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community.â
While major award shows have added streaming partnerships, the YouTube deal marks the first of the big four â the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Tonys â to completely jettison broadcast television.
It puts one of the most watched non-NFL broadcasts in the hands of Google. YouTube boasts some 2 billion viewers.
The Academy Awards will stream for free worldwide on YouTube, in addition to YouTube TV subscribers. It will be available with audio tracks in many languages, in addition to closed captioning.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
âThe Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honouring excellence in storytelling and artistry,â said Neal Mohan, chief executive of YouTube.
âPartnering 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 Oscarsâ storied legacy.â
The Walt Disney Co-owned ABC has been the broadcast home to the Oscars for almost its entire history.
NBC first televised the Oscars in 1953, but ABC picked up the rights in 1961. Aside from a period between 1971 and 1975, when NBC again aired the show, the Oscars have been on ABC.
âABC has been the proud home to The Oscars for more than half a century,” the network said in a statement. “We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the showâs centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success.â
The 2025 Academy Awards were watched by 19.7 million viewers on ABC, a slight increase from the year before.
