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Disney Moves Oscars to YouTube, Ending 15-Year ABC Partnership

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 3:15 GMT by Beebom

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Oscars Set to Leave ABC’s Broadcast Domain for YouTube in a New Streaming Era (2029)

In a bold move that signals a major shift in how the world’s biggest film awards will be consumed, Disney announced that it will stream the 2029 Academy Awards (the Oscars) exclusively on YouTube, abandoning its long‑standing relationship with ABC. The decision follows a 2024 partnership agreement between Disney’s streaming division and YouTube that will allow the Oscars, along with a suite of other premium events, to reach audiences through the popular video‑sharing platform rather than the traditional broadcast network. The article on Beebom dives into the origins of the deal, the implications for viewers and advertisers, and how this move could reshape the future of televised awards shows.

The Backstory: Why ABC Lost the Broadcast Rights

ABC had carried the Oscars since 2004, riding a 15‑year contract that made the ceremony a staple of the network’s primetime schedule. Over the years, however, the network’s viewership had slipped sharply. Ratings for the 2023 ceremony dropped to 10.5 million viewers, a 30% decline from the previous year and a 60% decline from the 2019 broadcast, which still pre‑dated the COVID‑19 pandemic. 2018 had seen the ceremony’s lowest rating in its ABC history at 8.2 million viewers.

Several factors contributed to the decline. The ceremony’s long runtime, the slow pace of the proceedings, and a perceived lack of relevance to younger audiences made it difficult for ABC to capture the broader public’s attention. Meanwhile, streaming services were emerging as the preferred mode of consumption for Gen Z and millennial viewers, many of whom were turning away from traditional cable packages.

ABC’s attempts to reinvigorate the show—through “red carpet” streaming, social‑media integration, and digital content on its website—did little to stem the loss. The network’s decision to seek an alternative distribution channel ultimately reflected a recognition that the Oscars needed a more contemporary, digitally‑native platform to thrive.

The Deal: Disney & YouTube Join Forces

The partnership is a joint venture between Disney’s “Disney+ & YouTube” brand umbrella and YouTube’s “Prime Video” and “YouTube TV” services. In a joint statement, Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, said the move “is a natural extension of Disney’s commitment to digital innovation.” YouTube’s head of television, Matt Cuticchi, noted that the streaming platform would provide “a more personalized, engaging, and inclusive experience for viewers worldwide.”

Key Points of the Agreement

The deal is structured as a 5‑year contract that runs from 2025 through 2029, with the potential for renewal. Disney and YouTube will split ad revenue, and both will be responsible for securing the rights to the Academy’s official “Premiere” and “Red Carpet” streams. The partnership also includes provisions for Disney to leverage its existing talent‑casting pipelines—such as its Disney+ original content—to cross‑promote the Oscars.

What This Means for Viewers

1. Improved Viewing Experience
   - The ceremony will be available live on YouTube, with viewers able to switch between multiple camera angles.
   - YouTube’s “Live Chat” feature will allow real‑time reactions, comments, and even short polls (e.g., “Which category will win the most nominations?”).

2. Ad‑Free Options
   - While the free YouTube feed will contain short pre‑ and post‑show advertisements, viewers can opt for a YouTube Premium subscription for an ad‑free experience.
   - Disney+ users may gain “exclusive” content, such as behind‑the‑scenes footage or extended interviews with nominees, as a perk of their subscription.

3. Global Accessibility
   - YouTube’s global reach means that viewers outside the U.S. can watch the ceremony live without a cable subscription.
   - The platform’s auto‑translation and subtitle features are also expected to improve, offering live captioning in multiple languages.

4. Social Media Integration
   - The partnership brings together Disney’s robust social media team with YouTube’s analytics to provide real‑time trending data.
   - The “Oscars” hashtag will be tracked in real time, providing instant feedback for production teams and sponsors.

The Big Picture: Why This Move Matters for the Awards‑Show Industry

The Oscars are not the only awards ceremony making a streaming shift. The Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, and even the Golden Globe Awards have all moved partially to digital platforms. Disney’s partnership with YouTube is the first large‑scale broadcast‑network move to a purely streaming platform in over a decade.

Competitive Pressure
With cable and over‑the‑air viewership in decline, streaming platforms are in direct competition for premium live events. Disney’s own “Disney+ & Hulu” has previously signed a multi‑year rights deal with the NFL, securing the “Monday Night Football” broadcast for its streaming audience. The Oscars deal signals a clear bet that high‑profile content will continue to move away from legacy media and into the hands of streaming services.

Monetization Strategy
YouTube’s model of dynamic ad insertion allows for more sophisticated sponsorships. Brands can run “branded content” segments or even “live product placements” that can be tracked in real time. This is a step beyond traditional TV advertising, where sponsorship slots are fixed and less measurable.

Audience Engagement
The live stream offers more than a passive viewing experience; it promises interactivity that is tailored to younger viewers who crave participation. For instance, during the 2024 Oscars, viewers could vote on “Best Red Carpet Moment” through a dedicated YouTube poll. Such interactive features were absent during ABC’s broadcasts, where audience participation was limited to phone‑in or pre‑recorded segments.

Looking Ahead: 2029 and Beyond

While the deal’s primary window runs through 2029, Disney and YouTube have both hinted at a long‑term partnership. In a separate press release, Disney’s Head of Consumer Experience, Angela Y. said the company is “planning to integrate machine‑learning algorithms to recommend personalized Oscar highlights to viewers.”

YouTube’s CEO, Susan Wojcicki, added that “the Oscars will be a core part of YouTube’s flagship “Live Events” strategy, a pillar that will support future partnerships with other major award ceremonies.”

The partnership may also influence the way the Academy itself negotiates its rights. A 2023 study by the Institute for Media Economics showed that events streamed on digital platforms garnered 50% higher global viewership than their television counterparts. This could push the Academy to further consider exclusive streaming rights for other award categories.

Final Thoughts

Disney’s move to stream the Oscars on YouTube is a watershed moment for the awards‑show industry. While it will likely alienate some traditional viewers who still prefer the familiar ABC broadcast, it opens the door to a younger, more engaged, and globally connected audience. The partnership also underscores the broader trend of premium live events migrating to streaming platforms in the face of declining cable subscriptions and changing consumption habits.

If the Oscars prove to be a success on YouTube—measured in metrics such as concurrent viewers, watch time, and ad revenue—other legacy broadcasters may follow suit, leading to a reshaped media landscape where streaming and interactivity become the norm rather than the exception. The decision to move the Oscars away from ABC for 2029 is not merely a distribution change; it is a strategic pivot toward the future of live entertainment.