The Oscars are making their most dramatic distribution shift in history, partnering exclusively with YouTube for global streaming rights covering 2029 through 2033. This four-year agreement represents the Academy’s commitment to adapting to contemporary viewing habits while expanding access to the world’s most prestigious film awards ceremony.
YouTube’s package includes far more than the main ceremony broadcast. The platform will offer comprehensive coverage encompassing red carpet arrivals, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcements, the nominees Luncheon, student Academy awards, continuous educational programming, member interviews, and podcasts—creating an immersive year-round Academy experience.
The Academy’s decision reflects its evolution into a truly global organization. With international voters now comprising 21% of membership, leadership views this partnership as essential for democratizing access to Academy content and strengthening relationships with film communities worldwide, regardless of geographic boundaries or traditional broadcast limitations.
YouTube’s qualifications for hosting such a significant cultural event are well-established. The platform consistently achieves record viewership shares in the United States and recently proved its live broadcasting capabilities by streaming an NFL game to more than 17 million viewers, demonstrating the infrastructure necessary to support a global audience for the Oscars.
The transition timeline provides ABC with three additional broadcasts, including the prestigious 100th anniversary ceremony in 2028, offering a dignified conclusion to the network’s fifty-year association with the awards. This measured approach allows adequate preparation time for what many industry observers consider the entertainment industry’s most significant distribution evolution in decades.