The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has formally announced that, commencing in 2029, the Academy Awards (“Oscars”) will be available exclusively via the YouTube streaming platform.
Pursuant to a newly executed multi-year agreement, the Oscars — widely regarded as Hollywood’s most prestigious annual film awards ceremony — will be distributed solely through digital streaming for the first time, thereby terminating the longstanding broadcast arrangement with the U.S. network ABC.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor described the arrangement as a “multifaceted global partnership” positioning YouTube as the future platform for both the Oscars and the Academy’s year-round programing.
Historically, the annual telecast, which honors the year’s leading cinematic achievements and attracts internationally recognized performers, has drawn approximately 20 million U.S. viewers, in addition to a substantial global audience.
ABC’s existing broadcast contract, scheduled to conclude with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, will remain in effect until that time. Thereafter, the exclusive streaming arrangement with YouTube — a subsidiary of Google — will take effect, marking a significant strategic shift in distribution within the film and entertainment industry.
This development comes amid evolving viewer habits, particularly among younger demographics, and follows recent fluctuations in viewership, including a reported 19.69 million viewers for the most recent ceremony, which was simulcast on ABC and Disney’s streaming service Hulu. The Academy’s traditional broadcast audience, which regularly exceeded 40 million viewers a decade ago, has faced notable declines in recent years, including a low of 10.4 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Academy and YouTube have represented that the new partnership is intended to broaden the awards’ global reach and ensure year-round accessibility to Academy content, reflecting broader industry trends toward digital and streaming-based distribution.#newsafro_
