Academy Awards, YouTube sign deal to livestream Oscars from 2029

Organisers say the deal with YouTube will allow viewers to watch the awards ceremony on an ‘unprecedented global scale’.Published On 18 Dec 2025The annual Academy Awards will be livestreamed on YouTube from 2029, the event’s organisers have announced, with the ABC network losing the rights to broadcast the illustrious movie awards ceremony for the first time in more than 50 years.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a Wednesday statement the YouTube partnership would allow the Academy Awards – better known as the Oscars – to reach “the largest worldwide audience possible”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘You made a kid’s dream come true’: Norris wins 1st F1 world driver’s titlelist 2 of 3Golden Globes 2026: Which films got nominations, and who was snubbed?list 3 of 3What we know about Nick Reiner, suspected of killing his father Rob Reinerend of list“This collaboration will leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy,” the statement said.“We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale,” it added.ABC is still set to host the Oscars 2026 and 2027 editions, as well as the 100th anniversary ceremony in 2028. The move to YouTube will begin with the 2029 edition and run through to 2033.The Walt Disney-owned ABC broadcast network has televised the Oscars every year since 1976. Recent years have seen ratings for the ceremony, regarded as the film industry’s most prestigious, decline as audiences move to online streaming platforms.The 2025 Oscars, held in March, were also simulcast live on Disney-owned streaming platform Hulu for the first time. Despite technical issues – including the stream cutting off before two major award categories, best actress and best picture, were announced – the show brought in a five-year high 19.7 million US viewers.