Marrakech – In a major shift for Hollywood’s most glamorous night, the Academy Awards telecast will leave ABC after more than five decades and stream live on YouTube worldwide starting in 2029, organizers announced yesterday.
ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, has broadcast the Oscars annually since 1976. But with audiences increasingly flocking to streaming platforms, ratings for awards shows have steadily declined.
While the 2025 Oscars drew 19.7 million U.S. viewers; a five-year peak, it remains far below the ceremony’s record 57 million viewers in 1998.
The event also streamed on Hulu this year, signaling early moves toward digital-first audiences.
Financial terms of the new arrangement with YouTube were not disclosed. ABC reportedly submitted a bid to retain the broadcast but was unwilling to overpay, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
In recent years, the network has found it increasingly difficult to make the show profitable.
YouTube’s global broadcast will include closed captioning and multiple-language audio tracks, making the Oscars accessible to viewers around the world. The partnership will begin with the 2029 ceremony and run through 2033.
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
Academy leaders highlighted the platform’s potential to broaden the show’s reach.
“We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers, and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor.
Beyond the main telecast, YouTube will also stream events that typically remain off-camera, including the Academy Governors Awards and the Oscar nominees luncheon.
