YouTube Secures Major Win: Exclusive Oscars Streaming from 2029

Hollywood’s premier awards ceremony is embarking on its most significant evolution with an exclusive four-year partnership with YouTube covering 2029 through 2033. This landmark agreement marks the Oscars’ definitive transition from traditional broadcast television to global digital streaming, positioning YouTube as the singular platform for cinema’s most celebrated annual gathering.
The deal’s comprehensive scope distinguishes it from conventional broadcasting agreements. YouTube will provide the main ceremony plus red carpet festivities, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination reveals, the nominees Luncheon, student Academy awards, year-round educational programming, podcasts, and extensive filmmaker interviews throughout the calendar.
Academy leadership emphasized that this partnership serves their organization’s increasingly diverse and international membership. With more than one-fifth of voters now residing outside America, the decision to work with a universally accessible streaming platform ensures equitable access to Academy programming for all members and global film communities.
YouTube’s market position and technical capabilities make it an ideal partner for this transition. The platform maintains the highest streaming viewership share in America and recently demonstrated its live event infrastructure by broadcasting an NFL game to over 17 million viewers, proving its readiness to support the technical demands and global audience of the Oscars.
The entertainment landscape has shifted dramatically, with streaming platforms dominating viewership while traditional television faces continued decline. ABC will host three final ceremonies, including the prestigious centennial celebration in 2028, before YouTube assumes control, marking the end of the network’s historic fifty-year relationship with Hollywood’s biggest night and beginning a new digital chapter.