YouTube Secures Exclusive Worldwide Oscar Broadcasting Contract

Digital streaming achieves another landmark victory as YouTube secures exclusive worldwide rights to the Academy Awards through a comprehensive four-year partnership beginning in 2029. This groundbreaking agreement fundamentally reshapes entertainment broadcasting, relocating Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremony from traditional network television to digital platforms with unprecedented global accessibility and enhanced content delivery throughout the entire awards season.
Beyond the main ceremony, this partnership encompasses extensive year-round Academy programming. YouTube will provide complete red carpet coverage, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, Governors Ball footage, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcements, the nominees Luncheon, Student Academy Awards, comprehensive Academy member interviews, filmmaker conversations, film education programs, podcasts, and supplementary content designed to maintain sustained audience engagement with cinematic excellence and Academy initiatives throughout the calendar year.
The Academy’s leadership enthusiastically embraced this partnership as strategic alignment with organizational evolution. Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized their institution’s international character, noting that 21% of voting members now reside outside the United States. They characterized worldwide digital distribution through YouTube as beneficial for Academy membership and the broader filmmaking community, advancing organizational mission while ensuring accessibility for global audiences passionate about celebrating creative achievement in cinema.
Neal Mohan, serving as YouTube CEO, welcomed the opportunity to steward one of entertainment’s most distinguished institutions. He committed to honoring the Oscars’ celebrated legacy while leveraging digital innovation to inspire new generations of filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts worldwide. This balanced approach positions YouTube as responsible cultural custodian, recognizing that successful stewardship requires both respecting established traditions and embracing technological advancement that enhances accessibility and engagement for current and future audiences.
The entertainment industry continues its dramatic transformation toward streaming dominance, providing context for this announcement. YouTube maintained its position as America’s most-watched streaming platform throughout the current year, achieving record viewership shares while traditional networks struggle competitively. The platform’s successful September live NFL broadcast attracted over 17 million viewers, demonstrating sophisticated production capabilities. Multiple major media companies competed for these rights, including Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Disney, which previously paid approximately $100 million annually. Disney’s ABC network will broadcast three final Oscar ceremonies through 2028 before the historic transition, concluding a relationship spanning over half a century.