Revolutionary Move: Oscars Announce YouTube as Exclusive Streaming Partner

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled a transformative partnership bringing the Oscars exclusively to YouTube for a four-year period starting in 2029. This groundbreaking agreement through 2033 represents the ceremony’s most significant evolution in distribution strategy, transitioning from traditional broadcast television to global digital streaming.
YouTube’s extensive package encompasses the complete Oscars ecosystem, providing worldwide audiences with the main ceremony alongside red carpet coverage, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcements, the nominees Luncheon, student filmmaker awards, continuous educational initiatives, podcasts, and in-depth filmmaker interviews.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor highlighted how this partnership aligns with their mission to serve a global film community. With 21% of Academy voters now residing outside the United States, the organization recognizes the importance of working with a platform that can deliver content universally without traditional geographic or broadcast limitations.
YouTube’s credentials for hosting this prestigious event are compelling. The platform dominates streaming viewership in America and recently demonstrated its live event infrastructure by broadcasting an NFL game to more than 17 million viewers, showcasing technical capabilities necessary to support the Oscars’ global audience and production complexity.
The announcement has generated significant discussion within the entertainment industry, with traditional broadcasters acknowledging the shifting media landscape. ABC will host three final ceremonies, including the prestigious centennial celebration in 2028, before YouTube assumes control, marking the end of over fifty years of the network’s association with Hollywood’s biggest night.