The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that the Oscars telecast will move from traditional broadcast to a streaming-only platform beginning in 2029, with YouTube securing exclusive global rights through 2033. ABC, which has aired the show for decades, will continue to carry the ceremony through 2028, including the centennial edition. The multi-year deal marks a definitive pivot from linear television to digital platforms and is being described by industry observers as a watershed moment for how major live entertainment events are distributed. Details of the bid and financial terms were not disclosed when the Academy and YouTube made the announcement.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube signed a multi-year agreement for exclusive global rights to the Oscars running from 2029 to 2033.
- ABC/Disney will remain the broadcast home of the ceremony through the 2028 telecast, including the Academy’s 100th anniversary show.
- The Academy auctioned future telecast rights in recent weeks, and YouTube outbid other potential suitors; exact bid amounts have not been released.
- Industry leaders interpret the move as a significant shift in power toward streaming platforms that have already altered film distribution and audience habits.
- YouTube CEO Neal Mohan framed the partnership as a way to expand the Oscars’ global reach and engage new, younger viewers.
- The change arrives as major films continue to combine theatrical premieres with later streaming releases—2025 Best Picture winner “Anora” premiered at Cannes, played in theaters, then reached Hulu months later.
Background
The Oscars have been broadcast on ABC for more than half a century, becoming a fixture of American television and a major annual advertising event. Over the past decade, however, viewing patterns have fragmented as audiences moved toward on-demand and ad-supported streaming services. Platforms such as YouTube and Netflix have rewritten distribution economics, financing, and marketing, prompting rights holders to reassess where marquee live events should appear.
Against that backdrop, the Academy opened its future telecast rights to competitive bids. Industry insiders had anticipated the possibility of a technology company winning the package as legacy broadcasters face pressure on ratings and advertiser demand. The Academy’s decision reflects both a search for new audience pathways and an effort to secure multi-year stability for the ceremony’s global distribution.
Main Event
The Academy announced on Wednesday that YouTube will hold exclusive global streaming rights to the Oscars from 2029 through 2033. The parties described the agreement as “multi-year,” but released no financial terms or detailed contractual provisions in the initial statements. The move ends the long run during which ABC was the primary U.S. broadcaster, though ABC will still air the ceremony through 2028.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan issued a public statement celebrating the Academy’s legacy and saying the platform would bring the show to viewers worldwide while inviting new generations to engage with film. The Academy’s announcement followed a short auction process for future telecasts that drew multiple bidders, according to people familiar with the process; observers said YouTube ultimately became the successful bidder.
The change comes as film distribution increasingly straddles festivals, theatrical windows and streaming releases. Organizers and studios continue to promote theatrical premieres for awards positioning—2025 Best Picture winner “Anora” debuted at Cannes and then in theaters before appearing on Hulu months later—illustrating the mixed ecosystem the Oscars aim to represent.
Analysis & Implications
The decision relocates one of Hollywood’s most prominent live events to a platform built for global, on‑demand viewing and algorithmic audience discovery. That has potential upside for reach: YouTube can stream without the same regional carriage constraints as linear TV and can layer tailored promotion, clips and creator-driven content around the live show. Advertisers and sponsors may find new audience targeting opportunities, but measurement and monetization models will differ from traditional TV ratings and CPM structures.
For legacy broadcasters, the loss underscores how rights economics have shifted. ABC’s continued carriage through 2028 gives the network time to prepare for the transition, but broadcasters will likely press for new ways to partner on premium live events or invest in alternate tentpoles. The Academy benefits from a guaranteed multi-year partner, but the platform change raises questions about how the ceremony’s format, pacing and presentation might adapt to a streaming-native audience.
Culturally, the move tests whether the Oscars’ association with theatrical prestige translates to a platform known for short-form and creator-led content. YouTube has experimented with feature financing and distribution; its stewardship of the ceremony could encourage new cross-promotion with creators and non-traditional content, while also prompting filmmakers and guilds to reassess how awards season visibility translates into theatrical box office and streaming windows.
Comparison & Data
| Years | Rights Holder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Through 2028 | ABC (Disney) | Linear U.S. broadcast; includes 2028 centennial telecast |
| 2029–2033 | YouTube | Exclusive global streaming rights; multi-year deal |
The table above summarizes the timeline disclosed by the Academy: ABC will continue through 2028 and YouTube will carry the awards from 2029 to 2033. Beyond those date ranges, public reporting has not yet released viewership projections, commercial terms or regional distribution conditions.
Reactions & Quotes
Industry and public responses were mixed, reflecting both enthusiasm for broader digital access and concern about the end of a familiar television institution.
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions,”
Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO
In context, Mohan framed the agreement as both a recognition of the Oscars’ cultural place and an opportunity to expand its reach to younger, global audiences via YouTube’s platform features and creator ecosystem.
“YouTube broadcasting the Oscars is like shaking hands with the guy who’s trying to kill you,”
Daniel Kunka, screenwriter (social media reaction)
This pithy remark from a screenwriter on X captured tastes and tensions in the creative community, where some creators worry about platform-driven changes to prestige institutions while others welcome audience growth.
“We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show’s centennial celebration in 2028,”
ABC/Disney (network statement)
ABC emphasized its long history with the ceremony and expressed support for the Academy’s future direction while confirming it will air the show through 2028.
Unconfirmed
- Exact financial terms of the YouTube-Academy deal, including the winning bid amount and revenue splits, have not been disclosed.
- Details about regional blackout rules, sublicensing arrangements and how local broadcasters might participate were not released at the time of the announcement.
- It is not yet clear how advertising inventory, sponsorships and brand integrations will be divided between the Academy, YouTube and any third parties.
Bottom Line
The Academy’s deal with YouTube signals a structural change in how flagship cultural events may be distributed in the streaming era. Moving the Oscars off linear broadcast after 2028 could enlarge global viewership and create new formats and promotional tie-ins, but it also requires rethinking measurement, monetization and the ceremony’s relationship to theatrical prestige.
Stakeholders should watch for the contract’s commercial details, planned changes to the telecast format, and how sponsors and advertisers respond to the measurement metrics YouTube will use. The outcome will influence not just awards broadcasts but broader negotiations over live-event rights across sports, music and entertainment.