The Academy Awards ceremony will no longer be broadcast on television starting in 2029. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced an exclusive agreement with YouTube, which will become the global broadcaster of the prestigious ceremony for five years. This decision ends decades of televised broadcasts, primarily by ABC, and marks a major turning point in the history of the world's most-watched film event.
According to the Academy, this strategic change aims to adapt the ceremony to new consumption habits and to strengthen its international reach. "The largest possible audience in the world"This is the stated objective of the Academy's CEO, Bill Kramer, and its president, Lynette Howell Taylor. In a joint statement, they believe this evolution will be "beneficial for our members and for the world of cinema."
An exclusive deal with YouTube after decades on ABC
The agreement signed with YouTube will take effect starting with the 2029 ceremony, following the broadcast of the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, which will continue to be produced by ABC, a network owned by the Disney group. The partnership with the Google/Alphabet platform stipulates that the ceremony will be broadcast exclusively online, ending the Oscars' presence on traditional television.
The contract amount has not been made public. However, according to sources close to the negotiations, "the amount YouTube was willing to pay" would have been too high for Disney to match. An ABC spokesperson responded by stating: "We wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences all the best for the future."highlighting the end of a historic relationship between the channel and the event.
A declining audience and changing habits
The decision comes amid a gradual decline in television ratings for the Oscars. The ceremony now draws approximately 20 million viewers in the United States, compared to nearly 40 million a decade ago. The last edition was watched by 19,69 million people, despite being broadcast simultaneously on ABC and Hulu, Disney's streaming platform—a first in the event's history.
This erosion is explained in particular by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and by the evolution of viewing practices, especially among younger audiences, who are turning more to digital platforms than to linear television.
Streaming at the heart of the Academy's strategy
By choosing YouTube, the Academy is betting on streaming, a sector that has been capturing a growing share of the global audience for several years, at the expense of television and movie theaters. YouTube has now established itself as the leading streaming platform in terms of viewing time, ahead of players like Netflix.
Streaming giants have also succeeded in attracting major film figures through massive investments, despite the initial reluctance of an industry historically tied to the big screen. The Academy believes that the agreement with YouTube will allow it to benefit from "YouTube's immense influence" and broaden the ceremony's reach globally.
A historic turning point for the biggest film ceremony
The exclusive broadcast of the Oscars on YouTube starting in 2029 symbolizes a profound shift in how major cultural events are broadcast and consumed. By moving away from traditional television, Hollywood's iconic ceremony reflects a broader transformation of the media landscape, where digital and streaming platforms are becoming central channels for reaching global audiences, while simultaneously striving to preserve the prestige and legacy of a century-old event.
