In a surprise move, YouTube has secured the broadcast rights to the Academy Awards ceremony starting in 2029, the symbolic year of the 101st Oscars. The long-standing partnership with ABC, which has aired the event since 1976, will continue until the current contract expires in 2028, after which the ceremony will move to the Alphabet-owned platform at least through 2033.
The Oscars have already been available online in recent years via Hulu, part of the Disney group, but it was not a given that the rights would go to a pure streaming platform with no traditional television network behind it. According to Deadline, Alphabet’s bid in the rights auction was significantly higher than competing offers, exceeding the $100 million previously paid by Disney.
The decision comes amid a long-term decline in U.S. television ratings for the Oscars: from a peak of 57 million viewers in 1998 (the year of Titanic), to fewer than 20 million in the most recent edition, after hitting a low of around 10 million during the pandemic. The drop has been attributed both to the broader crisis of linear television and to the evolving nature of the awards, which have increasingly honored independent and international films.
According to Variety, the Academy has welcomed the agreement enthusiastically, viewing it not as a step down but as an opportunity for global expansion. YouTube’s audience measurement system differs fundamentally from traditional TV ratings and offers unmatched international reach, as it is the world’s most widely used streaming platform, including on smart TVs.
The deal covers not only the live broadcast of the ceremony, but also all related events, including the red carpet, the Governors Ball, and annual ceremonies such as the Honorary Awards held in November. YouTube also plans to make the broadcast globally accessible through real-time subtitling and dubbing, removing the need for localized editions with national commentators or studio hosts.
It remains unclear how much editorial control the Academy will have over the format of the ceremony under the new agreement, but it is likely to increase, potentially easing tensions that have arisen in recent years with ABC over runtime, scheduling and the structure of the awards.
For YouTube, the deal represents a major strategic win, positioning the platform as a key player in premium entertainment, strengthening viewing via television screens and bringing it closer to the film industry — a relationship that has long been complex but is now becoming increasingly intertwined.
