The Oscars will be moving from broadcast to online as part of a multi-year new deal with YouTube.
From 2019, the video platform will have exclusive global rights to Hollywood’s biggest night, including the ceremony but also red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content and Governors Ball access. The deal will run until 2033.
“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,” said the Academy CEO, Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor in a statement. “The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible – which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community.”
Recent years have seen the Academy try to diversity its voting body, increasing international voters with 21% now from outside the US.
Neal Mohan, the CEO of YouTube, hopes the partnership will “inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy”.
The deal will also include access to the Governors awards, the nominations announcement, the nominees Luncheon, the student Academy awards, Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programs, podcasts and more.
The news comes after ABC in the US scored a slight increase in ratings for this year’s ceremony with 19.7 million viewers. The night was dominated by wins for Sean Baker’s comedy drama Anora.
“ABC has been the proud home to the Oscars for more than half a century,” an ABC spokesperson said. “We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show’s centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success.”
In 2023, Netflix also picked up the rights to the Screen Actors Guild awards, now known as the Actor awards, moving them from broadcast to streaming.
Next year’s ceremony will feature the first Oscar for casting. Nominations will be announced in January.
