The Academy Awards, regarded as Hollywood’s most prestigious and globally watched celebration of cinema, is set to enter a new digital era. Starting in 2029, the Oscars will stream exclusively on YouTube, bringing an end to its decades-long association with traditional television broadcasting.
This major shift follows a five-year agreement between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and YouTube, positioning the video platform as the exclusive streaming home of the Oscars from 2029 to 2033.
The deal will take effect with the 101st Academy Awards in 2029 and will continue through the 105th ceremony in 2033. This move officially concludes the Oscars’ long-standing presence on linear television, marking one of the biggest transformations in the award show’s history.
ABC, which has served as the Oscars’ US broadcast partner since 1976, will continue airing the ceremony through the 100th Academy Awards in 2028.
Announcing the partnership, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement:
"We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming."
They further added:
"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 - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community."
The agreement reflects the Academy’s broader strategy to modernise its reach and engage younger, digital-first audiences worldwide.
Under the multi-year agreement, the Oscars will stream live and free globally on YouTube, while YouTube TV subscribers in the US will also be able to watch the ceremony live.
Viewers can expect significantly expanded coverage beyond the main awards show.
Live red carpet coverage
Behind-the-scenes access
Exclusive Governors Ball streaming
To ensure wider global reach, YouTube will offer:
Closed captioning
Audio tracks in multiple languages
This move aligns with the Academy’s aim to make the Oscars more inclusive and accessible across regions.
Film enthusiasts will gain free access to several prestigious Academy events via the official Oscars YouTube channel, including:
Governors Awards
Oscars nominations announcement
Nominees Luncheon
Student Academy Awards
Scientific and Technical Awards
Beyond live events, viewers will also be able to watch:
Interviews with Academy members and filmmakers
Film education programmes
Podcasts and behind-the-scenes features
All content will be available in one central digital destination.
As part of the partnership, Google Arts & Culture will collaborate with the Academy to bring portions of the Academy Museum online. This will allow users worldwide to digitally explore selected museum exhibitions and educational programmes.
Google will also assist in digitising parts of the Academy Collection, the world’s largest film-related archive, which includes over 52 million items.
Commenting on the deal, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said:
“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."
Until the new YouTube deal begins:
ABC will continue as the US broadcast partner through 2028
The 98th Academy Awards will stream live on ABC on March 15
Indian audiences can watch the Oscars ceremony on:
Star Movies
Star Movies Select
JioHotstar
Several films have been shortlisted across awards such as:
Casting
Cinematography
Makeup & Hairstyling
Music
Sound
Visual Effects
This year, films have been shortlisted in 12 categories, covering both creative and technical awards.
India’s Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category.