OSCARS SET FOR DIGITAL REVOLUTION AS CEREMONY MOVES TO YOUTUBE

In one of the most significant shifts in the history of televised entertainment, the Academy Awards are officially moving to YouTube. After more than 50 years on network television, the Oscars will be streamed live and free on the global video platform beginning in 2029, marking the end of an era for traditional broadcasting and the start of a bold new chapter for Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremony.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the news on Wednesday, revealing that YouTube has secured the rights to stream the ceremony worldwide. The move brings an end to ABC’s half-century run as the exclusive home of the Oscars, a partnership that dates back to 1976 and has seen generations of viewers gather around their television sets to watch cinema history unfold.

From iconic moments such as Halle Berry’s historic Best Actress win, to unforgettable speeches, surprise upsets and, more recently, viral controversies, ABC has long been synonymous with Oscar night. But with viewing habits changing rapidly and audiences increasingly turning to digital platforms, the Academy has decided the future of the ceremony lies online.

The new deal is being widely viewed as a symbolic moment for the entertainment industry, underlining the growing influence of streaming and digital-first platforms over traditional network television. While the Oscars have struggled in recent years with declining linear TV ratings, YouTube’s massive global reach, boasting billions of users, offers the Academy an opportunity to reconnect with audiences in a way that simply wasn’t possible before.

In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor hailed the agreement as a major step forward.

“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” the statement read.

They added that the new partnership would allow the Academy to “expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible,” opening the door to viewers who may never have tuned in to a traditional TV broadcast.

Importantly, the Oscars will be available live and free on YouTube, a key factor that could dramatically broaden its audience. For decades, viewers outside the US have often relied on delayed broadcasts or paid television packages to watch the ceremony. This move removes many of those barriers, making the world’s most famous awards night instantly accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

The partnership is expected to extend beyond the annual ceremony itself. YouTube will also host year-round Academy content, potentially including behind-the-scenes features, interviews, archival footage and educational programming celebrating the history of cinema. For film fans, particularly those aged 40 and over who have grown up watching the Oscars as a cultural event, it represents a fascinating blend of tradition meeting modern technology.

However, the move is not without its critics. Some long-time viewers have expressed concern that shifting away from network television could dilute the sense of occasion that has long defined Oscar night. The familiar rhythm of sitting down in front of the TV, red carpet coverage leading into the ceremony, and the communal feel of live broadcasting has been a key part of the Oscars’ identity for decades.

Others have questioned how advertising, production values and viewing experience will translate to a digital-first platform. While YouTube has hosted live events before, the Oscars remain one of the most complex and closely scrutinised broadcasts in entertainment history.

Still, industry insiders believe the move is inevitable, and overdue. With younger audiences increasingly disengaged from traditional TV and older viewers becoming more comfortable with streaming platforms, the Academy appears to be future-proofing its flagship event.

The final Oscars ceremony on ABC is expected to air in 2028, bringing a 50-year broadcasting partnership to a close. From 2029 onwards, Oscar night will officially belong to the digital age.

Whether this bold move will reinvigorate interest in the ceremony or redefine how major awards shows are presented remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that one of Hollywood’s most enduring traditions is about to change forever.