Oscars Set to Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029

In a groundbreaking shift for the film industry, the Academy Awards will transition to YouTube for exclusive streaming, beginning in 2029. This marks a significant evolution in how Hollywood engages with audiences.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed this major development on Wednesday, confirming a multi-year agreement that grants YouTube the sole global rights to broadcast the Oscars through 2033.

Traditionally scheduled for March 15, the Oscars have been a fixture on ABC for 50 years. From 2029 onward, viewers will have the opportunity to watch the ceremony live and free of charge via YouTube.

This transition reflects the broader transformations within Hollywood, where studio mergers and production budget reductions are becoming increasingly common. The Academy’s leadership, CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor, emphasized the importance of this partnership in making the Academy’s work accessible to a vast global audience.

Despite a long-term decline in viewership, there was a notable increase in 2025, particularly among younger demographics who accessed the show on mobile devices and computers. YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, remarked that the Oscars are a vital cultural institution and expressed hope that this collaboration would foster a new generation of filmmakers and film enthusiasts, while honoring the tradition of the awards.

ABC, which has hosted the Oscars since 1976, expressed eagerness for the upcoming three broadcasts it will still manage. This development coincides with Warner Bros Discovery’s recent advice to its shareholders to dismiss a hostile takeover attempt by Paramount Skydance in favor of a competing offer from Netflix.

Both proposals have been perceived as detrimental amidst an industry grappling with significant cutbacks in recent years. Similar to major studios, cable networks are struggling as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms. The acquisition of the Oscars by YouTube underscores the ongoing trend toward streaming as a primary medium for major events.