After making ABC its home since 1976, the Oscars will officially be moving to YouTube starting in 2029. On Wednesday, it was announced that after the existing contract with ABC ends following the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, the awards ceremony will be streamed free on YouTube, beginning with the 101st Academy Awards. In addition to the Oscars themselves, all other events related to the ceremony, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and the Governors Ball, will also be streamed on YouTube. Other miscellaneous events and video content, such as the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programs, and podcasts, will also continue to be made available and continue to be uploaded to YouTube.
While many may see this as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences abandoning tradition, this announcement could be immensely beneficial for the Oscars, as it means the Oscars no longer have to adhere to the rules and regulations of Cable television, as they have with ABC. What this could entail is a longer-length Oscars ceremony that includes every category in the show, and writing jokes that can be a lot looser and more explicit.
This transition won’t be done until 2029. Until then, the Oscars will continue to be aired live on ABC, including the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15, 2026.
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