The Oscars Go Streaming: What Changes After 50 Years on TV

The Oscars are preparing for a major transformation. Beginning in 2029, the Academy Awards will stream live on YouTube worldwide, ending a decades-long run on U.S. broadcast television and signaling a broader shift in how major cultural events reach audiences.

ABC, owned by Disney, has aired the Oscars continuously since 1976. While the network will continue broadcasting the ceremony through 2028, including the 100th Academy Awards, the new agreement hands global live distribution to YouTube from 2029 through 2033.

The move reflects changing viewing habits as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms over traditional TV. Although the 2025 Oscars drew nearly 20 million U.S. viewers, the ceremony’s strongest performance in five years, that figure remains far below the show’s peak audience of more than 57 million in 1998.

Under the new deal, YouTube will also stream additional Academy events, including the Governors Awards and the Oscars nominees’ luncheon. The platform plans to offer closed captioning and multiple language audio tracks, expanding accessibility for international viewers.

Academy leaders say the partnership will allow the organization to reach new global audiences, preserve its film history, and connect with younger generations of filmmakers and fans.