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Streaming giants like YouTube and Netflix are in the running to host the Oscars after ABC’s 2028 contract ends. Could Hollywood’s biggest night go digital?
Anora had an incredible night at the 2025 Oscars, as the movie took home five major awards. (Photo Credits: X)
Will the 2029 Academy Awards be streaming on YouTube? With ABC’s broadcast contract ending in 2028, major streaming and network companies are eyeing the rights to host Hollywood’s biggest night. Bloomberg reports that Google-owned YouTube is emerging as a contender alongside Netflix, NBCUniversal, and other media giants.
Like Netflix, YouTube has steadily increased its focus on live events. The platform successfully acquired the NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023 and has bid for other major live broadcasts. Meanwhile, ABC has aired the Oscars since 1976, and Disney could still extend its long-standing contract. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has reportedly explored alternative options, both as a negotiation tactic and a potential new home for the awards.
YouTube’s Big Play for Hollywood’s Biggest Night
Most potential bidders for the Oscars aren’t surprising: Disney’s ABC, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount’s CBS all have stakes in live programming or major studio-backed content. But YouTube is the unexpected contender. Sources indicate the platform has inquired about acquiring the rights, signaling a serious move into live entertainment beyond sports and podcasts.
Hosting the Oscars would be a bold statement for YouTube. Known primarily for on-demand videos, YouTube would instantly gain global attention by broadcasting a live event watched by millions. The platform’s massive reach could inject new energy into the Oscars, which have faced declining ratings in recent years despite occasional spikes, such as the 2025 ceremony—the highest in five years.
Hollywood, Streaming, and the Bottom Line
While the idea of a YouTube-hosted Oscars may excite fans, it’s far from certain. ABC will continue airing the show through 2028, and the Academy is still negotiating. Many bidders can combine broadcast networks with streaming platforms, while several own major studios that prioritise theatrical releases.
For now, the Oscars remain a high-profile, though challenging, live event in a changing entertainment landscape. Whether it stays with ABC, moves to Netflix, or takes a digital leap to YouTube, Hollywood’s biggest night will continue to evolve—both on TV and online.
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
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