The Academy Awards Are Evolving, And It’s The Key to the Survival Of The Oscars

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The 98th Academy Awards are showing that the Oscars are evolving, and this is just the start. With the film Sinners receiving a record number of nominations and the Academy continuing to recognize international films, the awards are becoming more varied and inclusive.

The Academy Awards are constantly changing to keep up with the fast-paced film industry, and the success of the movie Sinners shows what kind of films can grab the Academy’s attention. This is just one of several changes happening: starting in 2029, the Oscars will stream exclusively on YouTube, demonstrating the Academy’s effort to adapt to modern viewing habits.

The YouTube/Oscars Deal And What It Means

I’m so excited – the Oscars are going digital! YouTube now has the exclusive rights to broadcast the whole ceremony, including all the red carpet action. It’s a fantastic five-year partnership that could even last longer, and they’re planning to broadcast in multiple languages. I really think this will make the Oscars bigger and more accessible globally than ever before. It’s amazing!

For more than fifty years, ABC has been the home of the Academy Awards, and they’re committed to broadcasting the show all the way through its 100th anniversary in 2028. This is hugely important for the future of both the film industry and traditional television. With the growing popularity of streaming, movie theaters have been facing challenges, and the Academy Awards’ continued broadcast on a major network provides stability.

The Oscars’ choice to stream on a service like YouTube is frustrating to some in the film industry. However, YouTube reaches a much larger and more diverse audience than ABC, particularly as more people move away from traditional TV. This is likely a smart move by the Oscars, a way to see if they can thrive even without traditional broadcast television.

As a long-time viewer, it feels like this is a really big deal, not just for ABC, but for regular TV in general. With so many people switching to streaming, networks have been depending more and more on live events to get big numbers. Things like sports and awards shows have usually been reliable for drawing in a large audience, even though overall ratings have been declining. It’s worrying to see something that helped keep traditional TV afloat potentially threatened.

What The Oscars Leaving ABC Means For Broadcast TV

Okay, so the Oscars potentially making a big move to YouTube? It’s a little scary for a traditionalist like me, honestly. If the Grammys and Emmys follow suit and ditch TV altogether, it could really change things. But, I get it. This could be exactly what the Oscars needs to connect with a new generation – especially millennials, who are becoming the audience they really need to reach. It feels risky, but it might just work.

Sharon Ross, from Columbia College Chicago, pointed out to Ebaster that this could be a significant step for YouTube. The platform already hosts many live sporting events, and programs like NFL Sunday Ticket and the YouTube TV Sports Plan are increasingly attracting loyal fans.

The service has already gained recognition with the SAG Awards, and the Oscars could be a major turning point for it. Ross believes the timing is perfect, noting that YouTube is a popular, well-supported platform, and the audience who grew up using it will likely be the main group watching the Oscars when the time comes.

It will be really interesting to see if this attracts younger viewers who have been watching only short clips instead of the entire Oscars ceremony. Everyone will also be watching to see if the Oscars’ traditional, older audience will tune in on YouTube. I think they probably will.

Why YouTube Wants The Oscars

YouTube’s purchase of the rights to stream the Academy Awards is also about future growth. According to Ross, this could open the door to broadcasting even larger events, like the Super Bowl, potentially bringing a huge audience to the platform. He’s optimistic about YouTube’s ability to attract viewers through these kinds of broadcasts.

YouTube has time to onboard viewers who are new to the platform. By the time they launch, I expect most people will already be using it, which should work well for them. I also anticipate that the Super Bowl broadcast rights will rotate between different networks as usual.

I really think YouTube is strategically positioning itself to potentially bid for the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl. If they can demonstrate they’re a reliable platform – and getting support from a prestigious organization like the Academy Awards would be huge – they could definitely become a serious contender. It feels like that’s where they’re headed long-term.

It’s a daring forecast, but very possible. If YouTube does well with the Oscars and keeps adding sports content, they could convince the NFL to let them broadcast games. If that happened, it could effectively end traditional broadcast television as we know it.

The Oscars Coming To YouTube Speaks To The State Of The Awards

Credit: Eli Ade / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

What’s interesting about this move to YouTube is that it happens as the Academy Awards itself is evolving. Recent issues, like the criticism around a lack of diversity with the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, led to changes in who gets to vote for the awards. These changes have resulted in a more diverse group of nominees and a broader range of films being recognized.

The Academy Awards is partnering with YouTube, reaching its massive global audience of over two billion viewers, and also expanding its recognition of international films in various categories. Movies like Sinners are gaining traction and performing well with voters, suggesting a shift towards films that resonate with broader audiences.

As a film lover, it’s really exciting to see the Oscars finally starting to represent a wider range of voices and stories. They’re even thinking about adding more categories, which is fantastic! What I’m really hoping for is that, without being tied down by broadcast schedules, the ceremony can actually give filmmakers and artists the time they deserve to be truly celebrated and share their work with the world.

YouTube also gained the rights to broadcast the red carpet pre-show, hoping to attract viewers interested in fashion, celebrity culture, and commentary surrounding the event. The Oscars, like all things, are changing with the times.

The internet has changed how everyone enjoys entertainment, so major TV networks now have their own streaming platforms. Events like the Oscars are also finding new ways to reach more people, and partnering with YouTube is a key part of that strategy for the Academy Awards.

This move also allows YouTube to evolve beyond just user-created content and individual creators. By partnering with the Oscars and the wider film world, YouTube could become known for more high-quality, artistic content. The Academy Awards announced that YouTube will also broadcast other events and programs related to the Oscars.

This encompasses events like the Governors Awards, the Oscar nominations, behind-the-scenes interviews, and educational film programs. YouTube could also contribute to restoring and preserving films, possibly offering a wider selection of classic movies – provided by the Academy – and becoming a competitor to Turner Classic Movies.

Ross explained that YouTube is focusing on film-related projects. If they build a good working relationship with the Academy, YouTube could become a recognized leader in film restoration and preservation, and strengthen its ties with major studios.

YouTube has been trying for years to compete with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but its first attempts at original shows with YouTube Red weren’t very successful. If YouTube and the Oscars work together to create a platform for both classic and new films, it could significantly change the future of both industries.

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2026-01-27 04:20