What's happened
On December 17, 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a five-year exclusive deal with YouTube to stream the Oscars globally from 2029 through 2033. ABC will continue broadcasting through the 100th ceremony in 2028. The move aims to reach a larger worldwide audience by leveraging YouTube's vast platform and free access.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Shift to Digital
The Academy's decision to move the Oscars to YouTube marks a significant pivot from traditional broadcast TV to digital streaming, reflecting broader industry trends. This transition acknowledges that younger audiences primarily consume content online, and YouTube's global reach offers unprecedented access.
Audience Reach and Accessibility
YouTube's platform, with over two billion users, will provide free live streaming with multilingual audio and closed captioning, expanding accessibility worldwide. This could democratize viewership beyond the US-centric broadcast model.
Impact on Viewership and Format
While the move may increase potential audience size, it does not guarantee higher engagement. The Oscars have struggled with declining interest due to factors like less mainstream movie recognition and competition from social media for celebrity attention. The Academy's promise to maintain the show's traditional format suggests continuity rather than radical change.
Financial and Industry Implications
The undisclosed financial terms hint at ABC's reluctance to overpay amid profitability challenges. YouTube's acquisition of exclusive rights signals the growing power of tech platforms in cultural events, potentially reshaping how prestigious ceremonies are monetized and consumed.
Future Outlook
This deal could set a precedent for other major awards shows to follow suit, accelerating the shift from broadcast to streaming. The Academy's partnership with Google's Arts & Culture initiative also indicates a broader digital strategy to preserve and promote film heritage.
Overall, the Oscars' move to YouTube is both a response to changing media consumption and a strategic effort to sustain relevance in a fragmented entertainment landscape.
What the papers say
The New York Times reported the Academy's embrace of digital streaming as a response to younger viewers' habits, noting the end of ABC's exclusive run since 1976. Al Jazeera highlighted the Academy's goal to reach "the largest worldwide audience possible" and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan's description of the Oscars as an "essential cultural institution." Sky News emphasized the free global access for YouTube's two billion users and the inclusion of red-carpet and behind-the-scenes content. Business Insider UK provided a critical perspective, questioning whether the move will reverse declining viewership, noting that the Oscars' audience has dropped from 57 million in 1998 to under 20 million recently, and suggesting that the shift to streaming is more symbolic than transformative. France 24 detailed the challenges faced by the Oscars amid changing viewing habits and the technical issues during the 2025 Hulu simulcast. The Independent and AP News underscored the comprehensive nature of the YouTube deal, including rights to other Academy events and digital museum access through Google's Arts & Culture initiative. Together, these sources illustrate a consensus on the strategic importance of the move, while also reflecting skepticism about its ability to fully revive the Oscars' cultural prominence.
How we got here
The Oscars have been broadcast on ABC since 1976, but declining TV ratings and shifting viewer habits toward online streaming prompted the Academy to seek new distribution. The 2025 ceremony saw a five-year high of 19.7 million US viewers but remains far below its 1998 peak of 57 million. Streaming platforms have increasingly influenced Hollywood's landscape, with major awards shows exploring digital partnerships.
Go deeper
- Why is the Oscars moving from ABC to YouTube?
- How will streaming on YouTube affect Oscars viewership?
- What other Academy events will YouTube stream?
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