The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a groundbreaking shift in its broadcasting strategy, revealing that the prestigious Academy Awards ceremony will transition to exclusive YouTube streaming beginning in 2029. This multi-year partnership with the Google-owned platform marks the first time in Oscars history that the event will be available solely through digital streaming, effectively terminating its long-standing television broadcast relationship with ABC that has spanned decades.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed enthusiasm about the transformative agreement, stating: “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.” This strategic move represents a significant evolution for Hollywood’s most celebrated awards ceremony, which traditionally attracts approximately 20 million American viewers plus millions more globally with its gathering of A-list celebrities and recognition of cinematic excellence.
The transition timeline allows ABC, owned by Disney, to maintain broadcasting rights through 2028, culminating with the historic 100th Academy Awards presentation. The most recent Oscars ceremony achieved viewership of 19.69 million, benefiting from its simultaneous live broadcast on both ABC and Disney’s streaming platform Hulu—a first-time dual-platform approach that contributed to the highest viewership numbers in five years despite technical difficulties that hampered the Hulu stream during the final awards presentation.
This streaming-exclusive shift reflects the entertainment industry’s broader adaptation to changing media consumption patterns, particularly among younger demographics. The Oscars have experienced substantial viewership fluctuations, with pandemic-era ceremonies dropping as low as 10.4 million viewers—a stark contrast to the 40-million-plus audiences that regularly tuned in just a decade ago. The YouTube partnership signifies the film industry’s acknowledgment of streaming’s growing dominance and its potential to reach global audiences through digital platforms.