Oscars to Stream on YouTube: New Era for Viewers
The Oscars ceremony, which has aired on ABC since 1976, will fully transition to YouTube starting in 2029 and will remain there until at least 2033. This announcement was made by The Hollywood Reporter based on a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 17.
Following the landmark 100th ceremony in 2028, the event will be available for free viewing to over 2 billion YouTube users worldwide and to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States.
As part of the new agreement, YouTube will broadcast not only the ceremony itself but also a vast amount of additional content, such as the red carpet, behind-the-scenes footage, nominee announcements for the Oscars, honorary Oscars presented at the Governors Awards, a nominee banquet, the student awards ceremony, the scientific and technical achievements Oscars, interviews with Academy members and directors, podcasts, and more.
Additionally, Google Arts & Culture will support the Academy Museum, providing electronic access to certain exhibitions and programs of the museum, while also digitizing over 52 million items from the Academy's collection.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the popularity of the ceremony on ABC has significantly declined over the past 15 years. Sources for the publication claim that Disney (the channel's parent company) is reluctant to invest heavily in a show that no longer yields profitable returns. The channel's staff has also been frustrated for a long time by the Academy's unwillingness to compromise on issues such as the number of nominations broadcast live and the overall runtime of the show.
YouTube is expected to provide access to the ceremony (including the red carpet and the event at the Dolby Theatre) to many content creators. YouTube CEO Neil Mohan described YouTube as the "epicenter of culture" and emphasized the importance of fan engagement in exclusive events, which "not only complements the main event but significantly enhances it".
Furthermore, the global reach of YouTube will enable the Academy to secure "more aggressive" deals with sponsors, such as partnerships between commercial companies and organizations like the International Olympic Committee. Notably, top-tier brands like Rolex and Visa have long been sponsors of the program.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will help us extend access to the Academy's activities to as many viewers as possible around the world, benefiting Academy members and the film community. This collaboration will allow us to leverage YouTube's extensive reach and enrich the Oscars and other Academy programs with innovative audience engagement opportunities while honoring our legacy. We will celebrate film, inspire new generations of filmmakers, and share access to our cinematic history on an unprecedented global scale," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor.
