The Oscars Are Moving to YouTube in a Historic Shift for Hollywood
So here’s a big moment in entertainment history that’s quietly changing how one of the world’s most iconic award shows will be watched. The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are officially leaving traditional broadcast television and will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube starting in 2029. That announcement has already sent shockwaves through Hollywood, because this isn’t just a small tweak. It’s a complete change in how the Oscars reach the world.
For now, things will stay familiar. ABC, which has been the longtime home of the Oscars in the United States, will continue to broadcast the ceremony through 2028. That year is especially symbolic, because it will mark the 100th Academy Awards. But once that centenary celebration wraps up, the red carpet will roll out somewhere new. From 2029 through at least 2033, YouTube will hold the global streaming rights.
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What’s interesting is that this deal goes far beyond just the main awards night. YouTube is set to become the full-time home for all things Oscars. That includes red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards, the Oscar nominations announcement, and other related events that usually sit on the sidelines. In simple terms, the Oscars ecosystem is being moved online and opened up to a massive global audience.
And massive really is the key word here. YouTube reaches more than two billion users worldwide, and the Oscars will stream for free on the platform. Viewers won’t need a cable subscription or even a paid streaming service, although YouTube TV subscribers will also have access. Multiple language audio tracks and closed captions are expected to be available, making the show more accessible than it has ever been.
The Academy has framed this move as a way to expand global access. It’s been said that, as an international organisation, the Academy wants the work of its members to reach the widest possible audience. From that perspective, the shift makes sense. Still, it’s a historic moment because this marks the first time one of the so-called “big four” award shows, alongside the Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys, has fully abandoned broadcast television.
There’s also a practical reason behind the move. Oscar ratings have struggled over the years. While recent broadcasts have shown some recovery, viewership is nowhere near the heights of a decade ago, when more than 40 million people regularly tuned in. Streaming is increasingly where audiences live, and this deal places the Oscars directly in that space.
In many ways, this feels like the end of one era and the beginning of another. After nearly a century tied to traditional television, the Oscars are stepping fully into the digital age. Whether this move reinvigorates the ceremony or simply reflects changing habits, one thing is clear: from 2029 onward, the words “And the Oscar goes to…” will be heard on YouTube.
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