‘And the Oscar goes to YouTube’ as Academy ends ABC partnership

‘And the Oscar goes to YouTube’ as Academy ends ABC partnership
Oscar statuettes line up inside a glass case at a "Meet the Oscars" display in New York's Times Square February 12, 2007.
Reuters

The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, will shift from traditional television broadcasting to online streaming on YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.

The decision will end the ceremony’s long-standing broadcast partnership with ABC, which has aired the Oscars since 1976. Under the current agreement, the Disney-owned network will continue to broadcast the event through 2028, including the 100th Academy Awards.

From 2029, the annual ceremony will be streamed live and free on YouTube, with additional access for YouTube TV subscribers. The agreement is set to run through at least 2033.

The Academy said the move is aimed at expanding global access to the awards, noting that YouTube’s platform, which reaches around two billion users worldwide, will offer features such as closed captioning and multiple language audio tracks.

The partnership also covers wider Academy programming, with other events and initiatives to be made available internationally via the official Oscars YouTube channel.

Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer said the transition reflects the organisation’s international focus. “The Academy is an international organisation, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible,” he said. He added that the collaboration would benefit Academy members and the broader film community while introducing new opportunities for audience engagement.

YouTube Chief Executive Neal Mohan described the Oscars as a major cultural institution. “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,” he said.

The shift marks a significant change for one of Hollywood’s most prominent events, highlighting the growing role of global digital platforms in live entertainment broadcasting.

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