In a significant shift for the entertainment industry, YouTube has secured a landmark deal to become the exclusive home of the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, starting in 2029. This agreement, announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will run through 2033, marking a definitive end to ABC's historic decades-long broadcast reign. While ABC will continue to air the ceremony until its 100th iteration in 2028, the move signals a major blow to traditional broadcast television and firmly establishes streaming platforms as a dominant force in major live events.

For the entirety of its existence on television and much of its radio life, the Oscars had remained with legacy media giants, primarily ABC since 1975, following brief stints with NBC in earlier years. YouTube's victory in securing these rights is a stunning development, especially considering it bested other interested parties like CBS, Prime Video, and Netflix after ABC's exclusive negotiating window lapsed.

Beyond merely broadcasting the main ceremony directly to consumers for free, YouTube's new agreement with the Academy encompasses a comprehensive suite of Oscar programming. This includes extensive pre-show and behind-the-scenes coverage, the official Oscar nominations announcement, the Governor's Awards, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards ceremony, and the Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony. Additionally, the platform will feature exclusive interviews with Academy members and filmmakers.

Further enriching this partnership, YouTube will collaborate with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures through the Google Arts & Culture initiative. This collaboration aims to digitize a portion of the Academy Collection's more than 52 million items and offer digital access to select exhibits and programs, broadening the reach of cinematic history and education.

This deal represents a strategic win for all parties involved. YouTube solidifies its presence in Hollywood and expands its growing content empire, which already includes the NFL Sunday Ticket. For the Academy, the partnership provides an ideal global streaming partner capable of expanding access to its work to the largest worldwide audience possible, which is beneficial for Academy members and the broader film community. The Academy had prioritized streaming to achieve greater global reach, recognizing that platforms like YouTube offer wider viewership with fewer accessibility barriers compared to traditional broadcasters or even other streaming services.

Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, emphasized the cultural significance of the Oscars, stating, “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the multifaceted global partnership will leverage YouTube’s vast reach to infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative engagement opportunities, while still honoring their legacy and inspiring new generations of filmmakers on an unprecedented global scale.

While the anticipation builds for the 2029 transition, the next Academy Awards ceremony will air on ABC on March 15, featuring Conan O'Brien as host.