YouTube will stream the Oscars – exclusively – starting in 2029

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that YouTube has acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast the Academy Awards beginning in 2029. The Google-owned platform beat out other contenders, including ABC, the longtime home of the Academy Awards, ending the network’s streak of hosting the awards show since 1976 (except for a brief period in the early 1970s).

Premiering on YouTube will be the 101st Academy Awards in 2029, and its deal will run through 2033. ABC will continue to broadcast the ceremony through 2028.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The news, which represents a historic turnaround for one of TV’s biggest events, highlights YouTube’s growing dominance in the TV space and a major shift as streaming takes on more live events. The concert will be available live and free to more than 2 billion viewers worldwide on YouTube, as well as YouTube TV subscribers in the US. The move comes as the Academy Awards’ ratings have steadily declined from a peak of 55 million viewers in 1998 to nearly 20 million viewers in recent years, prompting the Academy to explore new ways to reach audiences.

“We are thrilled to enter into a multi-faceted, global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Academy Awards and year-round Academy programming,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement. “The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the Academy’s work to the widest possible audience around the world – which will be beneficial to Academy members and the film community.”

As part of the deal, YouTube will not only stream the ceremony, but will also include red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Oscar nominations announcement, interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, access to the Governors Ball, film education programs, podcasts, and more.

“The Oscars are one of our core cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and art,” YouTube CEO Neil Mohan said in a statement. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers around the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film fans while preserving the legacy of the Academy Awards.”

While this isn’t the first time a streamer has acquired the rights to an awards show — Netflix acquired the rights to the SAG Awards — it is the first time one of the big four awards shows (Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys) has left broadcast television entirely in favor of streaming.