The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struck a deal with YouTube to stream the Oscars exclusively on the platform beginning with the 101st ceremony in 2029, marking a dramatic shift from traditional broadcast television to digital streaming.

The multi-year agreement, running through 2033, will make the Oscars—including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and the Governors Ball—available live and free to viewers worldwide. The ceremony will continue to feature commercial breaks, and YouTube TV subscribers in the United States will also have access to the broadcast.

"We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming," Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement. "This partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible."

The deal reportedly cost YouTube over nine figures, surpassing high eight-figure bids from Disney/ABC and NBCUniversal. Disney had been paying approximately $100 million annually for the rights but was seeking to reduce its investment amid declining viewership. ABC will continue broadcasting the ceremony through 2028, including the show's centennial celebration.

Disney/ABC acknowledged the end of an era, stating the network has "been the proud home to The Oscars for more than half a century" while expressing optimism about its remaining broadcasts and noting that 2027 will feature the Super Bowl, Oscars, and Grammys, having recently acquired rights to the latter from CBS.​​