Oscars to Stream Free Worldwide on YouTube From 2029
Oscars to Stream Free Worldwide on YouTube From 2029
Oscars to Stream Free Worldwide on YouTube From 2029
The Oscars shift from ABC to YouTube in 2029, offering free worldwide streaming of the ceremony, red carpet, governors awards, and nominations.
The Academy has struck a multi-year deal granting YouTube exclusive global rights to the Oscars beginning in 2029, through 2033. The change means the main ceremony, red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards, and the nominations announcement will be available worldwide for free on YouTube. ABC will continue to air the show through the 2028 edition to mark the 100-year anniversary.
Historically, the Oscars have evolved from a 15-minute 1929 event to today’s global spectacle. The first ceremony took place on May 16, 1929, at the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with about 270 attendees. The ceremony was first televised on NBC in 1953, and ABC began its long-running association later, with the first color broadcast in 1966. NBC briefly held rights again in 1970 before ABC regained them in 1976, a relationship that has endured for decades. The move to YouTube in 2029 aims to reach a broader, younger audience and expand international access beyond traditional broadcast limits.
This shift signals a broader industry trend toward platform-agnostic, worldwide distribution for major live events, potentially reshaping how audiences consume awards shows and how networks structure future deals. The plan includes streaming the main ceremony, red-carpet moments, and nominations announcements, offering fans around the world a free, accessible viewing option.
