Oscars ceremony will be streamed on YouTube exclusively starting in 2029

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed an exclusive streaming agreement with YouTube to broadcast the Oscars from 2029 through 2033, promising access for more than two billion viewers globally and availability to YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S.; the deal also covers behind-the-scenes, red-carpet coverage and other academy events such as the Governors Awards and nominee announcements on the Oscars YouTube channel. The Disney/ABC television broadcast and the academy’s international partnership with Disney’s Buena Vista International will remain in place through 2028, including the 100th Oscars. The move marks a strategic shift toward digital-first distribution to expand global reach and audience access for the ceremony and related content.

Analysis

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed an exclusive streaming agreement with YouTube to broadcast the Oscars from 2029 through 2033, giving YouTube access to more than two billion viewers globally and to YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S.; the deal also includes behind-the-scenes content, red carpet coverage and other academy events on the Oscars YouTube channel. Academy leaders Lynette Howell Taylor and Bill Kramer framed the move as a strategy to expand global access and inspire new audiences, signaling a shift toward digital-first distribution after Disney/ABC’s rights run through 2028 (including the 100th Oscars) and Buena Vista International’s international partnership. For Alphabet (GOOGL/GOOG) the arrangement increases premium live-event inventory and branded content opportunities that could lift engagement and ad monetization, consistent with the per-ticker positive sentiment signal; for Disney (DIS) the loss of post-2028 global broadcast rights is reflected in a mildly negative per-ticker sentiment. Material uncertainties remain because financial terms were undisclosed and the rights do not take effect until 2029, so near-term revenue for both parties is unchanged; monitor ad CPMs, YouTube TV subscription trends and any disclosed guarantees or revenue-share details to assess magnitude of impact.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Consider modestly increasing exposure to Alphabet (GOOGL/GOOG) to capture potential long-term upside from exclusive live-event inventory, while keeping position sizes calibrated to the lack of disclosed financial terms
• Reassess Disney (DIS) allocations and avoid adding to broadcast-exposure bets that assume long-term Oscars distribution beyond 2028, consider hedging if portfolio sensitivity to live-broadcast rights is material
• Monitor near-term indicators — YouTube ad CPMs during awards season, YouTube TV subscriber growth, Oscars YouTube channel engagement metrics and any published contract economics — before making larger position changes
• Maintain a cautious stance until contractual financials are disclosed and early engagement data post-2029 is available, since the deal’s effective date limits immediate cash-flow implications