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 premier ceremony, promising unprecedented global accessibility and enhanced content delivery throughout the entire awards season with year-round programming capabilities.
Beyond main ceremony coverage, this extensive partnership encompasses comprehensive Academy-related programming. 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, comprehensive interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, film education programs, podcasts, and supplementary content designed to transform occasional event viewing into sustained year-round engagement with filmmaking excellence and Academy initiatives.
Academy executives characterized this decision as essential for serving their increasingly international organization effectively. 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 addresses their diverse constituency more effectively than traditional American network broadcasting. This strategic thinking recognizes that organizational evolution requires distribution methods aligned with membership demographics, technological capabilities, and contemporary media consumption patterns.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan positioned the partnership as cultural stewardship meeting digital innovation opportunity. He committed to preserving the Oscars’ distinguished legacy while leveraging technological capabilities to inspire future creative generations and cultivate new film enthusiasts worldwide. This balanced approach recognizes that enduring cultural institutions must adapt distribution methods to maintain relevance while respecting established traditions that have made the Oscars integral to global entertainment culture for nearly a century.
The competitive bidding attracted significant interest from major media companies including Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Disney, demonstrating perceived value of Oscar broadcasting rights in today’s fragmented media landscape. YouTube’s victory reflects its dominant position in streaming viewership, having achieved record American shares throughout the current year while successfully expanding into live event production. The platform’s 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 ceremonies through 2028, including the centennial celebration, before this historic transition.