YouTube will become the exclusive streaming home of the Oscars beginning in 2029, marking a major turning point for one of entertainment’s most recognizable live events. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the deal on Wednesday, revealing that YouTube outbid other contenders, including the ceremony’s longtime broadcaster, ABC.
The first Oscars ceremony under YouTube’s new agreement will be the 101st Academy Awards in 2029. The partnership runs through 2033, while ABC will continue airing the Oscars through 2028, closing out a broadcast run that has lasted for decades.
While financial details weren’t shared, the shift is significant: it signals how quickly streaming platforms are moving into high-profile live programming that once belonged almost exclusively to traditional television networks. With YouTube’s massive global reach, the Academy is positioning the Oscars to be watched live and free by more than 2 billion viewers worldwide. In the United States, the show will also be available to YouTube TV subscribers.
The move comes as Oscar viewership has declined substantially over the years, dropping from a high of around 55 million viewers in 1998 to roughly 20 million in recent years. That long-term slide has pushed the Academy to rethink distribution and audience strategy, especially as younger viewers increasingly consume major cultural moments through streaming and online video.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor called the partnership a global, year-round collaboration that goes beyond one night. They emphasized that the Academy’s international footprint makes YouTube an ideal platform to expand access for audiences worldwide, while also supporting Academy members and the broader film community.
YouTube’s role won’t be limited to hosting the live Oscars broadcast. The agreement includes expanded coverage and programming tied to the event and the Academy’s broader work, such as red carpet content, behind-the-scenes features, the Oscar nominations announcement, interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, access tied to the Governors Ball, film education initiatives, podcasts, and more.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described the Oscars as a key cultural institution and framed the partnership as a way to connect the ceremony’s legacy with a new generation of creators and film fans around the world.
Streaming services have been increasingly involved with awards programming in recent years, but this deal stands out. It marks the first time one of the major awards shows traditionally grouped among the industry’s biggest events will move entirely away from broadcast TV in favor of a streaming-first future.
