Academy CEO Bill Kramer has reaffirmed plans to move the Academy Awards to YouTube from 2029, describing the decision as forward-thinking rather than risky. The Oscars, which have been broadcast on ABC in the United States since 1976, will shift to YouTube's platform starting with the 101st Academy Awards ceremony. Kramer emphasised that this move allows the Academy to reach a global audience of film enthusiasts, with the broadcast available free in 30 different languages.

Kramer highlighted that the international audience for the Oscars now exceeds the domestic US viewership, and YouTube offers the Academy unprecedented control over fan engagement and interactive viewing capabilities. The deal encompasses not only the main ceremony—which generated $150 million in revenue for the Academy from 2024 to 2025—but also related programming including nominations announcements, red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and educational programmes. The move comes as the Oscars' television audience has declined, with the 2026 ceremony drawing 17.86 million viewers on ABC and Hulu, down approximately 9 per cent from the previous year's 19.69 million viewers.