In entertainment broadcasting’s most transformative recent development, YouTube has secured exclusive worldwide 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 global accessibility, enhanced interactive content delivery throughout the awards season, and extensive year-round programming capabilities designed to fundamentally transform how audiences worldwide engage with filmmaking excellence.
Beyond main ceremony coverage, this extensive partnership encompasses comprehensive Academy-related programming and community initiatives throughout the calendar year. YouTube gains exclusive rights to red carpet festivities, behind-the-scenes exclusive content, Governors Ball access, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcements, the nominees Luncheon, Student Academy Awards, in-depth Academy member interviews, filmmaker conversations, film education programming, podcasts, and supplementary content designed to transform the traditional Oscar experience from an isolated annual event into sustained meaningful year-round engagement.
Academy leadership characterized this strategic decision as essential for fulfilling their organization’s global mission and effectively serving their increasingly international diverse membership. CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized that with voting membership now comprising 21% international participants from outside the United States, global digital distribution through a worldwide platform better serves their diverse constituency than traditional American network broadcasting. This strategic alignment between organizational demographics and distribution methodology positions the Academy for continued relevance, accessibility, and influence in an increasingly connected global entertainment industry.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan expressed genuine enthusiasm about stewarding the Oscars into the digital age with unwavering commitment to balancing tradition and innovation effectively. He committed to preserving the ceremony’s distinguished heritage and celebrated legacy while leveraging innovative digital technologies to inspire new generations of filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts globally. This balanced vision recognizes that enduring cultural institutions must thoughtfully adapt distribution methods to maintain relevance and accessibility while respecting established traditions that have made the Oscars an integral cherished part of global entertainment culture.
The competitive bidding process attracted significant sustained interest from major media companies including Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Disney, clearly demonstrating the perceived high value of Oscar broadcasting rights in today’s rapidly evolving fragmented media landscape. YouTube’s decisive victory reflects its dominant position in streaming viewership metrics, having achieved record American shares throughout the current year while successfully expanding into sophisticated live event production capabilities. The platform’s successful September NFL broadcast attracted over 17 million viewers. Industry analysts project YouTube TV will become America’s largest pay-TV service by next year. Disney’s ABC network will broadcast three final Oscar ceremonies through 2028, including the significant centennial celebration, before this historic transition to digital platforms.