The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Academy Awards will exclusively livestream for free on YouTube beginning in 2029, ending a long-standing partnership with ABC. The multiyear deal covers 2029 through 2033 and includes additional Academy programming and digitized content. This shift aims to expand global access to the iconic awards show.
The Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, are set for a significant change in broadcasting. On Wednesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed a new partnership with YouTube, granting the platform exclusive streaming rights for the ceremony from 2029 through 2033. The show will no longer air on broadcast television after 2028, marking the end of ABC's nearly 50-year run as the broadcaster since 1976.
ABC will continue to air the Oscars through its centennial celebration in 2028, with the 98th Academy Awards scheduled for March 15, 2026, on the network. Last March, the Academy tested streaming by simultaneously broadcasting the event on ABC and Hulu, hinting at the move toward digital platforms.
Under the agreement, YouTube will offer more than just the main ceremony. It includes livestreams of red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and other exclusive programming. The Oscars YouTube channel will also host events like the Governors Awards, nominations announcements, nominees luncheon, Student Academy Awards, Scientific and Technical Awards, member interviews, film education programs, and podcasts. YouTube TV subscribers and viewers will gain access to digitized exhibitions from the Academy museum and programs from its collection, supported by Google Arts & Culture.
"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 in a statement. They added, "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."
This transition comes as awards shows navigate challenges in the streaming era, where viewership has declined from traditional TV peaks. Despite this, the Oscars remain a prestigious event that draws aspiring filmmakers and actors worldwide, and the YouTube deal could help revive interest by reaching broader, global audiences.
