The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on December 17, 2025, that the Academy Awards will leave ABC and begin streaming globally on YouTube starting in 2029, marking a historic change for one of television’s longest-running entertainment events. ABC will continue broadcasting the ceremony through 2028, which will coincide with the Oscars’ 100th anniversary. The shift reflects the Academy’s effort to expand global access as viewing habits move away from traditional television toward digital platforms with broader international reach.

Beginning in 2029, YouTube will hold exclusive worldwide streaming rights to the Oscars through 2033, including red-carpet coverage, nominations announcements, and Governors Awards programming. Academy leadership described the agreement as a multifaceted partnership designed to reach a broader audience while preserving the ceremony’s cultural relevance. The move positions YouTube as the primary distribution platform for a major awards institution, underscoring the platform’s growing dominance in global media consumption despite its more limited experience producing large-scale live events. The decision also signals a broader transition in how legacy institutions adapt to changing viewer behavior, particularly among younger audiences who increasingly favor streaming services. While ABC emphasized its long relationship with the Oscars, the Academy cited accessibility features such as multilingual audio tracks and closed captioning as key benefits of the new arrangement. Analysts noted that the agreement prioritizes audience reach over traditional broadcast infrastructure, raising questions about production execution while highlighting the Academy’s strategic focus on long-term relevance in a rapidly evolving media landscape.