YouTube claims entertainment broadcasting’s most prestigious coveted prize through an exclusive four-year partnership for Academy Awards worldwide rights beginning in 2029, representing the most dramatic significant transformation in Oscar broadcasting history and entertainment distribution evolution worldwide. This groundbreaking landmark agreement moves Hollywood’s signature ultimate ceremony from traditional television networks to digital streaming platforms with unprecedented global reach, enhanced interactive content delivery capabilities, and comprehensive year-round programming designed to fundamentally revolutionize how audiences worldwide engage with filmmaking excellence and creative achievement recognition throughout all seasons and time periods.
The extensive comprehensive partnership scope extends dramatically beyond the main ceremony broadcast to encompass wide-ranging year-round Academy programming and community initiatives throughout the calendar year and beyond seasonal coverage periods and traditional distribution. YouTube will deliver complete red carpet arrivals, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, intimate Governors Ball moments, the Governors Awards ceremony, nomination announcement coverage, the nominees Luncheon access, Student Academy Awards recognition, extensive Academy member interviews, filmmaker conversations, comprehensive film education programs, podcasts, and supplementary content designed to maintain continuous sustained meaningful audience engagement throughout all seasons and time periods and cycles.
The strategic decision aligns perfectly with the Academy’s evolving international identity, global outreach mission, and commitment to worldwide unprecedented accessibility for diverse audiences across all demographics and regions worldwide. Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized that with 21% of voting members now residing outside the United States in various countries and regions, worldwide digital distribution better serves their increasingly diverse global constituency than traditional American network broadcasting methods and conventional distribution approaches and systems and models. They characterized this partnership as mutually beneficial for Academy membership and the broader international filmmaking community worldwide, advancing organizational goals while ensuring unprecedented accessibility for global audiences passionate about celebrating cinematic achievement and creative excellence across all borders.
Neal Mohan, leading YouTube as CEO, welcomed the significant responsibility and exciting opportunity of stewarding one of entertainment’s most cherished distinguished cultural institutions into the digital age with balanced commitment to preservation and innovation advancement and progress. He committed to honoring the Oscars’ celebrated legacy and storied heritage while leveraging cutting-edge digital innovation to inspire new emerging generations of filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts worldwide through enhanced accessible experiences and opportunities and platforms. This balanced approach positions YouTube as responsible cultural custodian, recognizing that successful long-term stewardship requires both respecting deeply established traditions and embracing technological advancement that enhances accessibility, engagement, and creative inspiration for current and future audiences across all platforms and demographics.
The announcement follows YouTube’s impressive record-breaking performance throughout the current year, maintaining its dominant position as America’s most-watched streaming platform with unprecedented viewership shares while traditional networks struggle to maintain competitive relevance in rapidly evolving markets and changing consumption landscapes worldwide across all regions. The platform’s successful September live NFL broadcast attracted over 17 million viewers, validating sophisticated production capabilities for major high-profile live events and complex productions with demanding requirements and technical specifications. Multiple major media companies competed fiercely for these highly valuable broadcasting rights, including Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Disney, which previously paid approximately $100 million annually for exclusive rights and distribution access privileges and opportunities. Disney’s ABC network will broadcast three final Oscar ceremonies through 2028, concluding a historic relationship spanning over half a century before this momentous significant transition to digital platforms and new distribution era begins officially.