Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor described the deal as a “multifaceted global partnership” that will make YouTube the future home of both the Oscars and the Academy’s year-round programming.
The annual Academy Awards, which honor the year’s top cinematic achievements and attract A-list stars to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, have traditionally drawn around 20 million American viewers, alongside millions worldwide. ABC’s current broadcast contract is set to conclude in 2028 with the 100th Academy Awards, and the Disney-owned channel will continue airing the ceremony until then.
The move to an exclusively streaming platform signals a major evolution for the Oscars and reflects broader industry trends as Hollywood adapts to changing viewing habits among younger audiences. Recent ceremonies have faced declining television ratings, with the latest Oscars drawing 19.69 million viewers—a figure bolstered by simultaneous streaming on Disney’s Hulu. Despite being the most-watched Oscars in five years, the Hulu stream experienced technical issues that prevented some viewers from seeing the final awards.
The Academy’s ratings have fallen sharply from a decade ago, when broadcasts regularly topped 40 million viewers, and reached a pandemic-era low of 10.4 million. The shift to YouTube underscores Hollywood’s recognition that the future of major entertainment events may increasingly reside on digital platforms rather than traditional broadcast television.
This landmark deal positions YouTube as a central hub for one of the world’s most iconic cultural events, offering global audiences the chance to stream the Oscars live for the first time, while providing the Academy with new opportunities to engage fans year-round.