Web Desk (MNN); The annual Academy Awards ceremony will shift from traditional television to global live streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, organisers announced on Wednesday.
The Oscars have been broadcast on Walt Disney-owned ABC every year since 1976. However, like other major Hollywood award shows, viewership has declined in recent years as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms.
The 2025 Academy Awards, held in March, attracted 19.7 million viewers in the United States, the highest figure in five years, but still well below the record audience of 57 million in 1998. This year’s ceremony was also streamed live on Hulu.
Financial terms of the agreement with YouTube were not disclosed. According to sources familiar with the matter, ABC submitted a bid to retain broadcast rights but was unwilling to pay a higher price, as the network has found it increasingly difficult to generate profits from the show.
Under the new agreement, YouTube will offer closed captioning and multiple-language audio options to make the ceremony accessible to viewers around the world. The deal, signed with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will cover the Oscars from 2029 through 2033.
YouTube Chief Executive Neal Mohan said the Oscars remain a vital cultural institution that celebrates excellence in storytelling and artistic achievement.
Academy leadership said the partnership would allow the organisation to reach a broader global audience, inspire future filmmakers and provide unprecedented access to cinema history.
In addition to the main ceremony, YouTube will also stream Academy events such as the Governors Awards and the Oscar nominees luncheon, which have traditionally not been televised.
ABC will continue to broadcast the Academy Awards in the United States for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 ceremonies, with the 2028 event marking the Oscars’ 100th anniversary.
