Academy Awards to be Exclusively Streamed on YouTube Starting in 2029... End of the TV Era

The prestigious Academy Awards will be streamed live worldwide on YouTube starting in 2029. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which oversees the Oscars, announced on the 17th (local time) that it has signed a multi-year broadcasting agreement with Google’s YouTube.

Under this agreement, YouTube has secured exclusive global broadcasting rights for the awards ceremony from the 101st Academy Awards in 2029 through 2033. Viewers will be able to watch the ceremony for free on YouTube from anywhere in the world.

The scope of the partnership goes beyond just the ceremony broadcast. Movie fans worldwide will also have access to various events and programs hosted by the Academy on the Oscar YouTube channel. Google has also agreed to contribute to the digitization of part of the 'Academy Collection,' which holds over 52 million items.

Neil Mohan, YouTube's CEO, expressed optimism, stating, "Collaboration with the Academy will inspire a new generation of creative individuals and film enthusiasts while maintaining the long-standing tradition of the Oscars."

For over 70 years, the Academy has broadcast the awards ceremony through U.S. terrestrial channels. After its first broadcast on NBC in March 1953, it moved to ABC for ten years starting in 1961, then returned to NBC before continuing on ABC from 1976.

The Academy plans to continue its partnership with Disney-owned ABC until the 100th Academy Awards in 2028. According to Bloomberg News, Disney has reportedly been paying about $75 million annually for the broadcasting rights.

The new contract terms between the Academy and YouTube have not been disclosed. Industry experts predict that the shift to a digital platform will significantly enhance the accessibility of the Oscars. As movie fans worldwide will be able to watch the ceremony without the constraints of time and location, the global influence of the Oscars is expected to expand even further.