YouTube Secures Exclusive Global Rights to Stream the Oscars Starting in 2029

2025-12-18 companies

Los Angeles, Wednesday, 17 December 2025.
Ending a half-century partnership with ABC, the Academy will exclusively stream the Oscars on YouTube to over 2 billion global viewers starting in 2029.

A Historic Shift in Distribution

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed on Wednesday that the 101st Academy Awards will migrate to YouTube in 2029, establishing a partnership that extends through 2033 [1][2]. This agreement grants Alphabet Inc.’s video platform exclusive global rights to the ceremony, which will be accessible for free to over 2 billion viewers worldwide and via YouTube TV for subscribers in the United States [1][7]. In addition to the main telecast, the deal encompasses a broad suite of Academy programming, including the Governors Awards, the nominations announcement, and the Nominees Luncheon [1][7].

The Digital Migration of Live Events

The move to streaming reflects a broader industry response to changing consumption habits, as viewership for traditional broadcasts continues to erode. While the 1998 ceremony, buoyed by the success of Titanic, drew approximately 57 million viewers in the U.S., the audience size has contracted significantly in the ensuing decades [6]. The 2025 telecast attracted 19.7 million viewers, representing a decline of approximately 65.439 percent from its peak [6][8].

Strategic and Financial Horizons

For the Academy, the partnership offers an opportunity to stabilize its financial future and modernize its reach. In the fiscal year ending June 30, the Oscars generated $150 million in revenue, primarily derived from its television rights deal with Disney [7]. Beyond the broadcast rights, the collaboration deepens the Academy’s ties with Google; the Google Arts & Culture initiative will assist in digitizing the Academy’s massive collection, which includes over 52 million film-related items [1][4]. ABC will retain the rights for the next three ceremonies, culminating in the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, allowing the network to close out its tenure with the broadcast’s historic milestone [8].

Sources

Streaming Media Media Rights