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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOscars Leaving TV for YouTube
In a move thats sure to send shockwaves through Hollywood, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars, beginning in 2029 with the 101st ceremony and running through 2033. ABC, where the film industrys biggest night has aired for decades, has rights to the telecast through 2028.
The Oscars, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content and Governors Ball, will be available live and for free on YouTube to viewers around the world, as well as to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. Architects of the agreement said they hope the move to YouTube will help make the Oscars more accessible to the Academys growing global audience through features such as closed captioning and audio tracks available in multiple languages.
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/oscars-youtube-2029-1236610989/
Dave Bowman
(7,167 posts)sdfernando
(6,084 posts)I will watch the next broadcast to see how they treat Rob and Michelle Reiner.
Emile
(42,300 posts)Sympthsical
(10,969 posts)Most people under 50 are cord cutters or cord nevers and consume most of their media online.
I think they're going to get a lot more (and a lot younger) eyeballs than they've been managing the past decade or so.
Auggie
(33,156 posts)no smart phone, no computer. They shunned tech 20 year ago and can't pick it up now. I think the switch is a terrible move.
msongs
(73,755 posts)UTUSN
(77,795 posts)Sympthsical
(10,969 posts)A lot of people who cut the cord have no easy way to watch programming like this. And subscribing to a streaming service to watch a (very poor) simulcast sucks.
Frankly, more traditional broadcast programming should be available online for free. I live in a valley equidistant from two broadcasting hubs. A signal here is not a thing. Most of the houses don't even have antennae on the roof. Every Superbowl, we just rotate who has to sign up for the free Fubo trial and remember to cancel it the next day.
Put it online. Run your ads. Go nuts.
I bet more people would watch it, and I think the Academy knows this. Most people under 50 are getting their media online. If the Academy wants to keep it relevant, a move like this was inevitable.
Cable is dying. Broadcast networks are not what they were. Let's acknowledge they're being replaced by Netmounthuney Tubazon corporation. It's fine. Meet people where they are.