The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struck a partnership with YouTube, granting the video-streaming platform exclusive rights to broadcast the Oscars from 2029 to 2033. This deal will expand the Oscars’ reach to over two billion global viewers and YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S. The agreement encompasses streaming privileges for behind-the-scenes footage, red carpet coverage, and other academy events like the Governors Awards and Oscars nominee announcements, all accessible on the Oscars YouTube channel. Additionally, the awards will be available in multiple languages with closed captioning. Financial specifics were not disclosed, and a broadcasting partner remains unidentified, leaving uncertainty about the show’s availability on traditional TV networks.
Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase the academy’s work to a vast international audience. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the partnership as a means to inspire creatives worldwide while honoring the Oscars’ esteemed legacy. The Disney ABC broadcast of the Oscars will continue until 2028, coinciding with the awards’ 100th edition, along with the academy’s ongoing global partnership with Disney’s Buena Vista International.
This agreement represents a significant shift for a prominent Hollywood institution, coinciding with the film industry’s ongoing transformation towards streaming services and the competitive landscape, including the battle for Warner Bros. Paramount recently initiated a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, following Netflix’s substantial deal with the studio.
ABC, a Disney-owned network, has been the primary broadcaster of the Oscars for the majority of its history. While NBC first aired the Oscars in 1953, ABC secured the rights in 1961, except for a brief period between 1971 and 1975 when NBC broadcasted the show. ABC expressed pride in its longstanding association with the Oscars and extended well wishes to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its future endeavors.
The 2025 Oscars garnered high viewership, reaching a five-year peak of 19.7 million total viewers. The event was streamed digitally for the first time on Hulu, though some viewers reported technical difficulties leading to the site being temporarily inaccessible before the announcement of the best picture winner.