Lead
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has agreed to a multi-year deal with YouTube to stream the Oscars beginning in 2029, the Academy announced on Wednesday. The arrangement covers the 101st Academy Awards and will run through 2033, shifting domestic live distribution from broadcast television to a Google-owned platform. Red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes features and Governors Ball access are included, with the telecast free on YouTube globally and available on YouTube TV in the U.S. The move follows the Academy’s existing domestic partnership with Disney and ABC that remains in place through 2028.
Key Takeaways
- The Academy signed an exclusive streaming agreement with YouTube for 2029–2033, covering the 101st through 105th Academy Awards.
- The deal includes the main telecast, red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content and access to the Governors Ball.
- U.S. distribution will be available to YouTube TV subscribers; the telecast will be free on YouTube for international audiences.
- Current domestic partnership with Disney/ABC continues through 2028 and covers the 100th Oscars in 2028.
- YouTube CEO Neal Mohan framed the deal as expanding global access and fostering a new generation of film viewers.
- Academy leaders said the partnership aims to reach the largest worldwide audience and benefit Academy members and the film community.
- The agreement is multi-year but limited to 2029–2033; long-term consequences for advertising, ratings and distribution remain to be seen.
Background
The Academy Awards have been a broadcast television mainstay for decades, with the Oscars televised live in the United States on network partners that draw large linear audiences and sell extensive advertising inventory. In recent years the show has faced declining linear ratings amid changing viewing habits and fragmented audiences. Streaming platforms and digital rights negotiations have become an increasing factor in awards-media deals as content owners pursue broader global reach and younger viewers.
Before this YouTube agreement, the Academy held a domestic deal with Disney and ABC that extends through 2028, which includes the centennial ceremony scheduled for 2028. International distribution has also been handled through Disney’s global channels in recent cycles. The shift to a Google-owned platform for U.S.-facing distribution in 2029 marks a notable reorientation of how the Academy will reach viewers across platforms and geographies.
Main Event
The Academy announced on Wednesday that it signed a multi-year deal with YouTube to stream the Oscars from 2029 through 2033. The agreement explicitly grants YouTube exclusive rights to broadcast the Academy Awards telecast in the covered seasons and includes ancillary programming such as the red carpet, behind-the-scenes segments and Governors Ball access. The Academy said the arrangement aims to expand access to the Oscar ceremony to a larger global audience.
Under the deal, viewers outside the United States will be able to watch the ceremony for free on YouTube, while U.S. viewers can watch via a YouTube TV subscription. The Academy emphasized the global availability of the feed on the platform, signaling a strategy to reach international and digitally native audiences who increasingly consume live events online rather than through traditional TV networks.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor issued a joint statement saying the YouTube partnership will broaden distribution and serve Academy members and the wider filmmaking community. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described the Oscars as a vital cultural institution and framed the partnership as a way to inspire new creativity and film appreciation worldwide. The Academy did not disclose financial terms in the announcement.
Analysis & Implications
The deal represents a strategic pivot for an event historically tied to major broadcast networks. Moving to YouTube acknowledges the growing importance of digital platforms for live-event delivery, particularly for reaching younger, international and mobile-first audiences. For the Academy, the platform shift could increase global viewership numbers but risks further erosion of traditional linear TV metrics that advertisers use to value inventory.
For YouTube and its owner Google, securing the Oscars is a high-profile content acquisition that strengthens the platform’s live-event credentials and advertising appeal. The inclusion of red carpet and behind-the-scenes content enhances the package’s value to sponsors and gives YouTube more inventory for branded integrations and targeted ad products. The move could accelerate a broader industry trend where streaming platforms bid aggressively for marquee live events.
Studios, talent and the Academy membership may see benefits in greater global exposure and digital engagement, including new promotional formats and social extensions around nominations and winners. However, talent unions, agents and studios will watch contract terms closely, particularly around residuals, broadcast windows and promotional commitments tied to a streaming-first telecast.
Comparison & Data
| Years | U.S. Rights Holder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Through 2028 | Disney / ABC | Includes 100th Oscars in 2028, linear broadcast |
| 2029–2033 | YouTube (Google) | Exclusive streaming rights; free international feed; YouTube TV in U.S. |
The table above shows the transition from Disney/ABC domestic broadcast rights through 2028 to a YouTube-exclusive streaming window beginning in 2029. Historically, network broadcasts have delivered the largest U.S. overnight audiences, but viewership has declined in recent years, prompting rights holders to explore alternative distribution. The Academy and rights holders will monitor metrics such as concurrent viewers, ad reach, demographic breakdowns and international engagement to evaluate success.
Reactions & Quotes
Academy leadership framed the agreement as a way to expand global access and support the film community; their statement emphasized membership and industry benefits. Industry stakeholders and advertisers will want clarity on measurement standards and monetization mechanisms for a streaming-first Oscars.
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’ legacy.
Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube (statement)
Mohan positioned the deal as cultural and generational outreach rather than a straightforward rights purchase. His remarks underscore YouTube’s focus on audience growth and content that drives engagement beyond traditional broadcast audiences.
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.
Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor, Academy leadership (joint statement)
The Academy emphasized member and community benefits while noting the logistical and strategic aims of broader distribution. The joint statement signals institutional support for a platform shift but leaves open operational details to be negotiated before 2029.
Unconfirmed
- Exact financial terms of the YouTube–Academy deal were not disclosed in the announcement and remain unconfirmed.
- Specifics on how advertising inventory and measurement will be handled across regions have not been publicly detailed.
- Any potential changes to talent promotion requirements or residual arrangements tied to the streaming telecast have not been confirmed.
Bottom Line
The Academy’s multi-year deal with YouTube represents a major distribution shift for one of the most visible cultural events in global entertainment. By moving the telecast to a Google-owned streaming platform for 2029–2033, the Academy aims to expand international reach and connect with younger viewers, but it also introduces new questions about ratings comparability, ad valuation and revenue sharing.
Stakeholders including studios, talent representatives, advertisers and Academy members will be watching the rollout closely to see how viewership, monetization and industry norms adapt. The agreement marks a clear signal that major live events are increasingly platform-agnostic and that streaming services are central players in the future of televised cultural moments.