The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Oscars ceremony will undergo a historic change.
From 2029, the full broadcast of the event will be made exclusively and free on YouTube, leaving behind more than 50 years of collaboration with the ABC network, which has broadcast the ceremony since 1976.
Under the multi-year deal, YouTube will have global rights to broadcast the Oscars through 2033. Academy executives say the move is aimed at expanding the Academy’s international audience and bringing younger generations closer to the world of cinema. The partnership with the online platform also aims to increase global reach and strengthen the connection between the Academy and the film community.
Viewership of the Oscars has been declining over the years, although the 2025 ceremony saw a resurgence of interest, especially among young people who watched the event on mobile devices and computers. YouTube executives describe the Oscars as a global cultural institution and say that this collaboration will inspire a new generation of creators and film fans.
ABC will continue to broadcast future ceremonies through 2028, but the move is seen as another indication of the entertainment industry’s shift toward streaming platforms. Industry analysts see the shift as a crucial step toward digitizing major events and adapting cinema to today’s global audiences.
