YouTube has secured exclusive global streaming rights for the Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, beginning in 2029. This landmark deal, announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, marks a significant shift in live event broadcasting, ending ABC's decades-long tenure as the awards show's television home.
The Google-owned platform successfully outbid other contenders, including ABC, which has broadcast the ceremony since 1976, with only a brief interruption in the early 1970s. YouTube's exclusive coverage will commence with the 101st Oscars in 2029, and the agreement is set to run through 2033. ABC will continue to air the prestigious awards ceremony until 2028. Financial terms of the groundbreaking deal were not disclosed.
This move underscores YouTube's escalating influence in the television landscape and highlights a broader trend of major live events transitioning to streaming platforms. The Academy Awards ceremony will be available live and free to over 2 billion global viewers via YouTube, in addition to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. The Academy's decision comes as Oscar ratings have seen a steady decline, falling from a peak of 55 million viewers in 1998 to approximately 20 million in recent years, prompting a strategic push to engage new and wider audiences.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed their enthusiasm:
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. 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.
Beyond the main awards ceremony, the comprehensive deal includes exclusive streaming rights for red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, the official Oscar nominations announcement, interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, access to the Governors Ball, film education programs, and podcasts, among other exclusive content.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan commented on the partnership:
The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry. 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’ storied legacy.
While this isn't the first instance of a streaming service acquiring rights to an awards show — Netflix, for example, secured the rights to the SAG Awards — it marks a pivotal moment. The Oscars will be the first of the 'big four' major awards shows (which also include the Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys) to completely depart from traditional broadcast television in favor of an exclusive streaming model.
