Oscars to stream on YouTube from 2029, ending decades-long run on ABC

The Academy Awards will shift to YouTube as its exclusive streaming platform starting in 2029, marking the end of the ceremony’s long association with ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.

ABC will continue to broadcast the Oscars through 2028, with that year’s ceremony set to be the 100th Academy Awards. From 2029 onward, YouTube will hold global streaming rights for the event through 2033.

Under the landmark agreement, the Oscars will stream free worldwide on YouTube and will also be available on YouTube TV in the United States. In addition to the main awards ceremony, YouTube will stream red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards, Oscar nominations announcements, and year-round behind-the-scenes content related to the Academy.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the partnership aims to connect the Oscars with a new generation of audiences while preserving the event’s legacy. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the organisation was excited to make YouTube the future home of the Oscars and its broader programming slate.

The move represents a major shift for one of entertainment’s most prestigious annual events, reflecting changing viewer habits and the growing influence of digital streaming platforms on global live broadcasts.