The Oscars award ceremonies will completely transition to YouTube starting in 2029, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter on December 17.
After the 100th anniversary celebration in 2028, these events will be accessible for free to over 2 billion YouTube users worldwide and YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S.
Under the new agreement, YouTube will broadcast not only the ceremony itself but also a significant amount of additional content, including the red carpet, behind-the-scenes footage, nominee announcements for the Oscars, honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards, a nominees’ banquet, student award ceremonies, and scientific achievement Oscars, interviews with Academy members and directors, podcasts, and more.
The agreement also anticipates collaboration with the Academy Museum through Google Arts & Culture, which will provide digital access to specific exhibitions and digitize over 52 million items from the Academy's collection.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the popularity of the ceremony on ABC has significantly declined over the last 15 years. Sources claim that Disney, the channel's owner, is reluctant to invest heavily in a program that no longer generates substantial profits. The channel's team has also been frustrated by the Academy's unwillingness to compromise on issues like the number of nominations and the overall length of the broadcast.
YouTube is expected to provide access to the ceremony, including the red carpet and the main event in the Dolby Theatre, to many content creators. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan referred to the platform as the “epicenter of culture” and emphasized the importance of fan engagement in exclusive events.
Moreover, YouTube's global reach will enable the Academy to secure “more aggressive” deals with sponsors, including partnerships with major brands like Rolex and Visa.
“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will help us expand access to the Academy's activities, reaching as many viewers as possible worldwide, benefiting Academy members and the film community, ” stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor.
