Los Angeles

The Academy Awards will leave broadcast television and move exclusively to YouTube beginning in 2029, marking a historic shift for one of television’s most prestigious events, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.

ABC, which has aired the Oscars for most of their history, will continue to broadcast the ceremony through 2028 — the year the awards mark their 100th edition. From 2029 to 2033, YouTube will hold global streaming rights to the Oscars.

Under the agreement, YouTube will become the central platform for Oscars-related content, including the main ceremony, red-carpet coverage, Governors Awards and the Oscar nominations announcement. The awards will stream free worldwide on YouTube and be available to YouTube TV subscribers, with multiple language audio tracks and closed captioning.

“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement, citing the platform’s ability to expand global access.

The deal makes the Oscars the first of the four major US award shows — Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Tonys — to completely move away from traditional broadcast television. Financial terms were not disclosed.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the partnership would help inspire a new generation of film lovers while preserving the Oscars’ legacy.

ABC said it was proud to have been the home of the Oscars for over half a century and looked forward to broadcasting the remaining three ceremonies, including the centennial celebration in 2028.

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The 2025 Oscars drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC, slightly higher than the previous year.