Live coverage of the Oscars, plus red carpet coverage and behind-the-scenes content will move to YouTube after current broadcast deals end.
Beginning with the 101st Oscars Ceremony in 2029, YouTube will gain exclusive global rights, as confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in a statement on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The move marks another major shift away from traditional national broadcasters towards a single global distribution model, made possible by international streaming platforms.
In the UK, the Oscars were previously shown on Sky before ITV secured the rights in 2024. ITV is due to air the Oscars live for the final time in 2028.
UK audiences are traditionally limited due to the time difference. The main Oscars ceremony takes place on a Sunday either at the end of February or early March each year. The time difference shifts this to the early hours of Monday morning in the UK. As a result, timeshift viewing on streaming has become more relevant.
YouTube will help make the Oscars accessible to the Academy’s growing global audience through features such as closed captioning and audio tracks available in multiple languages. The deal runs until 2033.
What’s included in the Oscars YouTube partnership?
Both AMPAS and Google’s YouTube will benefit in more ways than just financially.
AMPAS confirmed the partnership will give YouTube access to not just the main ceremony, but also numerous other Academy events. They include the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programmes, podcasts, and more. Events will stream on the Oscars YouTube channel.
In addition, the Google Arts & Culture initiative will help provide digital access to select Academy Museum exhibitions. It will also help to digitise components of the Academy Collection – the largest film-related collection in the world, with more than 52 million items.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: AMPAS