The Academy Awards are heading to the small screen. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube exclusive worldwide rights to the Oscars beginning in 2029, starting with the 101st ceremony and running through 2033. ABC, the network that has broadcast the ceremony for decades, will retain the broadcast rights through 2028.
The Oscars—including red-carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes events, and the Governors Ball—will be streamed live and free to viewers worldwide, as well as to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. According to sources cited by Variety, the YouTube broadcast will include advertising. Those involved in the agreement say the move to YouTube will help make the Oscars more accessible to a global audience “through features such as subtitles and audio that can be translated into multiple languages.”
The Academy spent much of 2025 seeking a new broadcast agreement. Over the summer, there were several bids from NBCUniversal and Netflix. Sources believe YouTube submitted a nine-figure offer, surpassing the eight-figure bids from Disney/ABC and NBCUniversal. Under the most recent contract, Disney paid $100 million per year for the Oscars, but had recently been seeking to reduce its spending on licensing fees.