Oscars to stream exclusively on YouTube from 2029
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that starting in 2029, the Oscars will be available exclusively on YouTube, marking a major shift in the ceremony’s broadcast history. Under the new multi-year agreement, Hollywood’s most prestigious awards show will move entirely to streaming, ending its long-standing partnership with the US network ABC.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed excitement about the deal, calling it a “multifaceted global partnership” that will make YouTube the future home not only of the Oscars but also of the Academy’s year-round programming. The move reflects the organization’s efforts to modernize and adapt to the evolving media landscape.
The Oscars, which honor the year’s top achievements in film, have traditionally drawn millions of viewers worldwide and consistently attracted Hollywood’s biggest stars to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. In recent years, however, the show’s television audience has declined. ABC’s most recent broadcast contract was set to run through the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, and the network will continue airing the show until that point. Afterward, YouTube will take over as the exclusive platform.
The shift comes amid broader changes in Hollywood, as studios and award shows grapple with changing viewing habits, particularly among younger audiences who favor streaming over traditional television. Over the past decade, the Oscars’ US viewership has fallen from peaks of over 40 million to around 19–20 million. The most recent ceremony drew 19.69 million viewers, aided in part by a simultaneous live stream on Disney’s Hulu, which marked the first time the broadcast was shown concurrently on a streaming service. While this helped boost numbers, Hulu’s stream faced technical difficulties that left some viewers unable to watch the final awards.
The decision to partner with YouTube, a platform with global reach, signals a willingness by the Academy to embrace digital platforms as a primary venue for one of Hollywood’s most iconic events. It also reflects a broader industry trend in which streaming services increasingly influence not only film distribution but also high-profile entertainment events. The YouTube deal is likely to bring both new opportunities and challenges, as the Academy balances accessibility, audience engagement, and the prestige associated with live, star-studded broadcasts.
This historic transition underscores how Hollywood is navigating the tension between traditional television and the digital streaming era, positioning the Oscars for a fully online future beginning in 2029.
