YouTube is rolling out the Oscars red carpet.
The Academy Awards, which have been broadcast on ABC since 1976, will move to the streaming platform in 2029, just one year after the ceremony’s 100th anniversary. The landmark deal saw YouTube outbid all other offers and allow the Oscar ceremony to be streamed on its platform until 2033.
“Movie’s biggest night is heading to @YouTube,” the Academy shared on social media on Dec. 17, along with an image depicting the Oscars next to the YouTube logo “Starting in 2029.”
However, big movements will not start immediately. In fact, ABC will retain the broadcast rights to the world’s most-watched awards until 2028, the 100th edition of this iconic ceremony. The Oscars will then be made available to viewers around the world for free on YouTube.
“The Oscars are one of our most important cultural institutions, celebrating great storytelling and artistry,” YouTube CEO Neil Mohan said in a statement. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this arts and entertainment extravaganza to audiences around the world will stay true to Oscar’s storied legacy while inspiring a new generation of creatives and film lovers.”
