Award shows ditching traditional TV is not new. The SAG Awards, now called the Actor Awards, made a similar shift in 2024, moving from cable TV to Netflix. Now the Oscars, never shy about a dramatic exit, have decided that ABC is so last century. Starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029, the Academy plans to stream the awards exclusively on YouTube, ending ABC’s decades-long broadcast run and embracing a digital-first future.

But how will Hollywood’s most glamorous night play out when it is just a click away? Here are three reasons why this daring move redefines how audiences experience the Oscars. 

For decades, viewers across the United States and abroad had to tune in via broadcast television. Total audience views for the show remain a shadow of their late-20th-century peaks, when movies like Titanic attracted over 55 million viewers on broadcast television. Yet the Oscars have seen occasional ratings bumps, such as the 2025 ceremony drawing nearly 19.7 million viewers across ABC and streaming platforms.

While many factors have resulted in the dip, timing and streaming subscriptions have played a vital role. Traditional broadcasts, even when simulcast on digital platforms like Hulu, still required subscriptions or regional access. YouTube, by contrast, is a free, global platform with over 2 billion logged-in users per month and near-ubiquitous availability on mobile and connected TVs.

Streaming the Oscars live on YouTube could eliminate geographic barriers and subscription requirements, letting audiences from Mumbai to Manila watch in real time without a cable bundle.

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And while global access opens new doors, there is another barrier YouTube helps the Oscars break.

Traditional TV broadcasts impose strict limits. Programming blocks, ad slots, and network schedules force the show to fit within roughly three hours. Even with iconic hosts like Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, or Jimmy Kimmel keeping the show engaging, time constraints have long restricted creative freedom.

YouTube eliminates these limits. The Academy could let speeches breathe, include more categories live, and experiment with multi-stage coverage or interactive segments. Freed from linear broadcast restrictions, producers can create a show designed around storytelling. This could also result in more audience engagement rather than fitting neatly into a fixed slot.

And while breaking free from TV’s clock lets the ceremony breathe, YouTube also opens more doors.

The YouTube partnership is never just about the main event. It also includes year-round programming, such as the Governors Awards, nomination announcements, and film education content. This approach transforms the Oscars from a single annual spectacle into a persistent digital hub for movie lovers.

The Academy has already adapted a digital presence through its social media platforms, and with the YouTube leg expanded, Oscars will never be the same again. 

Fans can follow exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes clips, and live discussions throughout the year. This underscores the deepening engagement and cultivation of a global community of cinephiles. Instead of being a one-night-only event, the Oscars become an ongoing celebration of cinema, keeping audiences connected long after the final envelope is opened.

The Oscars’ leap from TV to YouTube is more than a platform change. It is a reimagining of how audiences experience Hollywood’s grandest night. With easier access, creative freedom, and year-round engagement, this shift could make the Academy Awards more inclusive, interactive, and culturally relevant than ever.

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Are you ready to stream the Oscars on YouTube? Share your thoughts on how the show should evolve in the digital age.