WASHINGTON : The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year deal with YouTube to stream the Oscars from 2029 through 2033. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership would allow the ceremony to reach “the largest worldwide audience possible” on an unprecedented scale.

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, will continue to air the Oscars in 2026 and 2027, as well as the milestone 100th Academy Awards ceremony in 2028. The move to YouTube will take effect the following year, marking the first time since 1976 that the Oscars will not be broadcast on the traditional network.

The shift reflects changing viewing habits as audiences increasingly turn to digital platforms. While the Oscars remain the film industry’s most celebrated event, television ratings have steadily declined over the years. In March 2025, the ceremony was simulcast live on Disney-owned streaming platform Hulu for the first time. Despite technical glitches, including the stream cutting off before the announcements of best actress and best picture, the broadcast drew 19.7 million viewers in the US, a five-year high but still far below the 57 million viewers recorded at its 1998 peak.

Financial details of the YouTube agreement were not disclosed. According to Reuters, ABC had bid to retain the broadcast rights but was reluctant to overpay as profitability pressures continue to mount for traditional networks.

YouTube confirmed that the Oscars will be available to stream for free and will include closed captioning and multiple audio language tracks to make the show accessible to a global audience. The platform has also secured rights to stream other Academy events, including the Governors Awards and the Oscar nominees luncheon, which have typically taken place off-camera.

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