YouTube is eyeing Hollywood’s biggest stage. According to Bloomberg, the Google-owned platform has expressed interest in acquiring broadcast rights to the Academy Awards once ABC’s current deal expires in 2028.
While ABC has long been the Oscars’ home, the rise of streaming competition has opened the door for change. Platforms like Netflix and Prime Video have already expanded into live programming to boost subscriptions and ad revenue. YouTube, through its YouTube TV service, has also leaned into live events, recently touting its NFL Sunday Ticket package and record-breaking audience numbers for Taylor Swift’s appearance on the New Heights podcast.
The Academy began shopping the awards earlier this year after exclusive negotiations with ABC broke down over a license-fee increase. AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer has praised Disney-ABC as an “amazing partner” but stressed that the next rights deal “will be very lucrative,” regardless of who lands it.
If YouTube secures the Oscars starting in 2029, it would mark a dramatic shift for a show that has faced steady audience declines. With its unmatched global reach, the platform could bring fresh viewers to an event that remains film’s most prestigious night.
