In a deal that underscores how digital platforms are supplanting traditional television as the home of must-watch cultural moments, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year agreement that will make YouTube the exclusive global destination for the Oscars beginning in 2029.
Under the unexpected pact, YouTube will stream the Oscars live and free worldwide from the 101st ceremony in 2029 through 2033, marking the first time the film industry’s biggest night will premiere on a platform built for streaming rather than broadcast TV. The ceremony will be available to more than 2 billion logged-in YouTube users globally, with YouTube TV carrying the show for US subscribers.
The move reflects a broader industry realignment as marquee live events, long considered the last stronghold of linear television, increasingly migrate to digital-first platforms with massive global reach, built-in discovery, and younger audiences.
Beyond the main ceremony, YouTube will become the central hub for the entire Oscars ecosystem. Red carpet coverage, backstage access, Governors Ball footage, and behind-the-scenes content will all live on YouTube, alongside year-round Academy programming. Fans will also gain exclusive access to the Governors Awards, nominations announcements, nominee luncheons, Student Academy Awards, Scientific and Technical Awards, filmmaker interviews, podcasts, and film education initiatives via the Oscars’ official YouTube channel.
Accessibility and international reach are central to the deal. YouTube will deploy features such as closed captioning and multi-language audio tracks, helping the Academy reach global audiences at a scale difficult to match through traditional broadcast distribution.
“This partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor in a joint statement. “By leveraging YouTube’s vast reach, we can celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”
The agreement goes beyond live events. Through Google Arts & Culture, YouTube will also help digitise and distribute parts of the Academy Collection, the world’s largest film-related archive with more than 52 million items, and provide global digital access to select Academy Museum exhibitions and programmes. The ambition is to create an always-on destination for film fans, rather than a once-a-year TV appointment.
For YouTube, the Oscars deal marks a major step in its evolution from distribution platform to primary home for premium live events. Following moves into exclusive live sports, global music events, and large-scale creator broadcasts that regularly attract tens of millions of concurrent viewers, the addition of the Oscars positions YouTube squarely against broadcast networks and subscription streamers for cultural relevance, ad dollars, and audience attention.
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. “Bringing this celebration to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
Disney’s ABC will continue as US broadcast partner until the 100th Oscars in 2028, with Buena Vista International handling international distribution during that period. Current global rights owners that are expected to lose out when YouTube takes over include ITV in the UK, CTV in Canada, Channel 7 in Australia and RAI 1 in Italy.
