In a development that fundamentally reshapes entertainment broadcasting, YouTube has secured exclusive global rights to the Academy Awards through a comprehensive four-year partnership commencing in 2029. This landmark agreement signals the definitive transition from traditional network television to digital streaming for Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremony, promising unprecedented worldwide accessibility and enhanced content delivery throughout the entire awards season.
Beyond main ceremony coverage, the extensive partnership encompasses year-round Academy programming. YouTube gains exclusive rights to red carpet arrivals, behind-the-scenes exclusive footage, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcements, the nominees Luncheon, Student Academy Awards, comprehensive interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, film education programs, podcasts, and supplementary content designed to transform the Oscar experience from an isolated annual event into sustained engagement with filmmaking excellence.
Academy executives enthusiastically embraced this partnership as alignment with their organization’s international evolution. CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized that with voting membership now including 21% participants from outside the United States, global digital distribution better serves their diverse constituency. They characterized this arrangement as beneficial for Academy members and the broader filmmaking community, advancing organizational mission while ensuring accessibility for worldwide audiences celebrating cinematic achievement.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan welcomed the responsibility of stewarding one of entertainment’s most cherished institutions. He committed to honoring the Oscars’ storied legacy while inspiring future creative generations through innovative digital experiences. This vision positions YouTube not merely as broadcaster but as cultural custodian responsible for maintaining and enhancing the ceremony’s significance while leveraging technological capabilities to improve accessibility and engagement for current audiences and emerging filmmakers.
The announcement arrives amid entertainment industry’s ongoing transformation toward streaming dominance. YouTube achieved record American viewership shares throughout the current year, consistently outperforming traditional television networks. The platform’s successful September live NFL broadcast attracted over 17 million viewers, demonstrating sophisticated capabilities for major live event production. Multiple media giants including Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Disney competed for these rights, with Disney previously paying approximately $100 million annually. Disney’s ABC network will broadcast three final ceremonies through 2028, including the centennial celebration, before this historic transition to digital platforms.