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In a surprising turn, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that, starting in 2029, the Oscars will no longer be broadcast on ABC, ending more than 60 years of traditional television broadcasting. Instead, the ceremony will be broadcast on YouTube, becoming the first major awards gala to completely abandon conventional television. The agreement, which will keep YouTube as the main home of the Oscars until 2033, represents a radical change in the industry.
This new agreement not only affects the broadcast of the main ceremony of the Academy Awards, but also includes all related coverage: from the red carpet to the Governors Awards and the announcement of the nominations. According to the Academy, this change is part of an effort to expand access to the Oscars to an even larger global audience, something that YouTube, with its user base of more than 2 billion people, can easily facilitate.
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Over the years, ABC has been the channel in charge of broadcasting the Oscars, a relationship that dates back to 1961. Despite a brief period in which NBC took over in the 1970s, ABC has been the home of the gala for more than five decades. However, the growing popularity of streaming platforms and the evolution of content consumption seem to have driven this transition to YouTube. The platform, owned by Google, will allow the Academy Awards to reach a more diverse audience, adapting to the new times.
One of the most outstanding features of this agreement is that the Oscars will be broadcast for free via YouTube, expanding its reach beyond YouTube TV subscribers. In addition, the event will feature audio options in several languages and subtitles, which reinforces the Academy's global focus. According to Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy, this alliance with YouTube will allow the awards to reach "the largest possible global audience", benefiting both Academy members and the film community in general. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting that the Oscars are one of the "essential cultural institutions" that celebrate art and creativity. For YouTube, broadcasting the Oscars represents a unique opportunity to connect with a new generation of cinephiles and creators, keeping the rich history of the event alive while adapting to technological changes. The change will be official in 2029, although ABC will continue to broadcast the Oscars until 2028, the year in which the ceremony will celebrate its centenary. This significant anniversary will mark the end of an era in traditional television, with YouTube taking the reins of what has historically been one of the most-watched broadcasts of the year. This announcement, which reflects a growing trend of digitalization and online consumption, could also set a precedent for other major entertainment events to explore new ways of reaching their audience.
