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The Academy Awards, long a staple of broadcast television, is set for a major transformation. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced a multi-year agreement with YouTube, granting the platform exclusive global livestreaming rights for the Oscars. This partnership will commence with the 101st Academy Awards in 2029 and extend through 2033. Until then, the Oscars will continue to air on ABC, with two years remaining on their current contract.
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YouTube's coverage will encompass the full Academy Awards ceremony, including red carpet interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and the Governors Ball. While the global livestream will be free, it will still feature advertisements during the broadcast. The platform also aims to enhance accessibility for a "growing global audience" by offering features like subtitles and multi-language audio tracks.
Reportedly, NBCUniversal and Netflix were also among the bidders for the streaming rights before YouTube secured the deal. However, YouTube reportedly paid a nine-figure sum for the rights, significantly exceeding the eight-figure bids from ABC and NBCUniversal. Under the most recent contract, Disney reportedly pays approximately $100 million annually for the Oscars broadcast rights. However, with declining viewership for the ceremony, ABC was reportedly looking to reduce its licensing fee.