The Academy is moving the awards to YouTube under an exclusive five-year deal beginning in 2029. YouTube certainly has the potential numbers; the platform has about 2 billion monthly users, and a massive global reach. Streaming the ceremony free and globally on the platform gives the Oscars the opportunity to introduce new viewers to its spectacle. Will YouTube stars get the chance to move beyond the “social media ambassador” role? Snapping up an awards ceremony of this calibre is a huge win for YouTube, even in terms of publicity.

Source: The Irish Times December 21, 2025 09:54 UTC