The Oscars are going streaming, and YouTube is getting the biggest night in Hollywood. Starting in 2029, YouTube will become the exclusive home of the Academy Awards, taking over from ABC after more than five decades. The Google-owned platform beat out multiple bidders, including ABC itself, for the rights to the prestigious ceremony.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the deal in a press release, confirming that YouTube will air the 101st Oscars and continue hosting the show through 2033.
Global push
Meanwhile, the Oscars have been struggling in the ratings for years and grappling with relevance in a fragmented media landscape. Giving the ceremony to a giant global streaming platform signals the Academy has bowed to the reality that audiences aren’t watching network or cable TV … or even TV at all.
“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement.
The deal includes access to a number of related events, including the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Scientific and Technical awards, as well as interviews, film education programs and podcasts.
What's next?
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
Reportedly, losing the Oscars was a relief to Disney execs who didn’t want to spend the kind of money that the Academy was seeking. An ABC spokesperson told Deadline that it was proud to host the Oscars for more than half a century and wished success to the Academy.
The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,
Neal Mohan YouTube CEO
It’s unclear from the press release how the Oscars will stream across YouTube’s ecosystem. It may air only on the YouTube platform, or it could be simulcast on YouTube TV.
What is clear is that the Oscars aren’t betting on appointment television. Instead, it will rely on global reach and the algorithm to maintain its status as a cultural touchstone into the 2030s.
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