The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced a seismic shift in how the world views the Oscars. Starting in 2029, the prestigious awards ceremony will end its decades-long residency on traditional broadcast television and move exclusively to YouTube. This four-year global partnership, which runs through 2033, grants YouTube the rights to the main ceremony, the glamorous red carpet, and high-profile satellite events like the Governors Ball and the nominees’ luncheon.
This transition marks a historic departure from ABC, which has been the home of the Oscars for over fifty years. While the network will host the next three telecasts—including the milestone 100th anniversary in 2028—the Academy is clearly looking toward a digital future. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized that this move is designed to reach a truly global audience, reflecting a voting body that is increasingly international, with 21% of members now based outside the United States.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan expressed his enthusiasm for the deal, noting that the platform aims to inspire a new generation of film lovers while honoring the ceremony’s storied legacy. The deal is comprehensive, covering not just the “Big Night” but also year-round Academy programming, including student awards, filmmaker interviews, and educational content. This suggests a strategy to transform the Oscars from a single-night event into a constant presence in the digital creator ecosystem.
The move comes at a time when YouTube is dominating the streaming landscape, recently surpassing major competitors in viewership shares. Its success with live sports, such as the NFL, has proven that the platform can handle massive, real-time global events. Analysts even predict that YouTube TV will soon become the largest pay-TV service in the U.S., making it a logical, albeit controversial, successor to traditional networks.
While the news has sparked debate within the industry—with some insiders predicting a “meltdown” among traditionalist Academy members—the financial and reach-based incentives were likely too significant to ignore. Netflix and NBCUniversal were also reportedly in the running for the rights, but YouTube’s vast global infrastructure ultimately won out. As the industry prepares for this change, all eyes remain on the upcoming 2025 ceremony, which will introduce the first-ever Oscar for casting.
