The Academy Awards will leave ABC and stream exclusively on YouTube starting in 2029, ending a decades-long run on broadcast television as the film academy bets on free global distribution and younger viewing habits. The new agreement begins with the 101st Oscars and runs through 2033. ABC will keep airing the ceremony through the 100th Oscars in 2028.
The Academy said the YouTube deal covers far more than the telecast. YouTube will carry red-carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes programming and Governors Ball access, plus other Academy events and content such as the Governors Awards, nominations announcement, nominees luncheon, Student Academy Awards and Scientific and Technical Awards. The Academy said YouTube will offer closed captioning and multiple language audio tracks, and the show will stream free worldwide, with YouTube TV offering a U.S. option for subscribers.
The shift follows years of audience erosion for awards shows on linear TV. The 2025 Oscars drew 19.7 million U.S. viewers, a recent high but far below the late-1990s peak. The Academy and YouTube positioned the move as a reach play: YouTube says it serves over 2 billion users, and recent Nielsen tallies have put the platform at the top of U.S. streaming share.
ABC, owned by Disney, struck a gracious note as it heads toward the centennial broadcast, saying it was proud to have served as the Oscars’ home for decades and looked ahead to the final three telecasts under its deal. Behind the scenes, the deal raises practical questions that Hollywood will watch closely, from live-show production muscle to advertiser expectations and measurement on a platform built for creators. The AP noted the Academy chose a massive digital venue that lacks the same long-established live-event infrastructure as legacy networks.
The Academy also tied the partnership to a longer runway of year-round programming and access, including plans for Google Arts & Culture to help put parts of the Academy Museum and the Academy’s collection online.
