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In a move that marks a significant turning point in how major entertainment events are distributed globally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Oscars ceremony will be streamed live and free on YouTube from 2029, with exclusive rights through to 2033.
From the 101st edition onwards, the event will leave traditional television — where it had been broadcast primarily by ABC in the United States since 1976 — and move to a digital video platform, reaching more than two billion people worldwide. The decision signals the end of more than five decades of partnership with traditional broadcasters and the beginning of a new era of global, digital access to the Oscars.
Why is this change so significant?
The Academy’s decision is not merely a technological shift: it reflects deep changes in audience behaviour and in how live content is consumed worldwide. While television viewership of the awards has declined over the years — even with a recent uptick, figures remain well below historic peaks — online platforms have demonstrated greater dynamism and reach, particularly among younger audiences.
By moving to YouTube, the ceremony will encompass not only the main broadcast but also complementary content such as the red carpet, parallel events like the Governors Awards, filmmaker interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage — all available free of charge, with subtitles and audio tracks in multiple languages to broaden international reach.
This new model also updates the Oscars for the digital age: beyond democratising access to the world’s most prestigious film event, it positions the awards more competitively amid ongoing cultural and technological shifts. Partnering with YouTube — a global platform with billions of users — expands the Academy’s presence at a time when traditional television is losing ground to flexible, on-demand and multi-platform formats.
Impacts beyond the broadcast
Media experts note that the move sends several signals to the market: on one hand, it acknowledges that major cultural events must find new ways to connect with diverse audiences across different regions; on the other, it breaks with traditions that linked the Oscars to free-to-air television for decades.
The digital era is redefining the rules of access and cultural participation. Making the Oscars free on YouTube opens the door for people everywhere to experience the celebration of cinema with the same intensity — without subscription barriers or geographical limits.
This transformation is not just about where to watch, but about how culture and entertainment adapt to a new logic of global engagement. It is a moment that reaffirms digital platforms as central stages for collective experiences — as iconic, in their own way, as the history of cinema itself.
