It will be tough to find anyone in the entertainment industry who isn't shocked by last week's announcement that the Oscars ceremony is relocating to YouTube, starting in 2029.
The show, the world's most-watched awards telecast, has aired on ABC since 1976. YouTube has secured the rights to broadcast Hollywood's biggest night until at least 2033. The deal, which begins with the show's 101st edition, is said to include red carpet coverage, the Oscar nominations announcement, the Governors Awards, and a heap of other exclusive events and behind-the-scenes coverage.
While the Oscars have seen a slight resurgence in viewership since the dismal 2021 telecast, they are nowhere near what they used to be. While 18 million viewers witnessed Milkey Madison take home the Best Actress trophy for her work in Anora, that number pales in comparison to the nearly 60 million who watched Titanic rule the world in 1998. But still, the eyes are there. And when you factor in Hulu, the numbers do increase a bit.
But as the way we consume media evolves, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must evolve as well. Though older audiences rely on live broadcasts, younger generations are more likely to consume the show in small snippets via social media and, you guessed it, YouTube. And while the broadcast's streaming-only availability could alienate a select group of viewers, it opens the door to many others, especially those residing internationally.
As the voting group expands its membership and embraces foreign contributors, we've seen a sharp increase in the number of foreign-supported projects getting noticeable Academy love. YouTube can broadcast the show for free worldwide. Thus, allowing the organization (and the nominated films) to capitalize on more eyeballs and a broader, more inclusive set of demographics.
While exact details surrounding the deal have not yet been made public, it will be interesting to see how the platform grows over the next four years and how it utilizes its long list of creators to boost the broadcast. Don't be surprised if we begin to see a plethora of social media personalities crowd the red carpet, promoting their own brand as they rub elbows with Hollywood elite.
It is worth noting that ABC will still have the privilege of airing the show's centennial celebration. And while there seems to be no better time to modernize the show than the beginning of a new century, one can hope that the telecast continues to evolve. Otherwise, YouTube will have a tough hill to climb to maximize this historic deal and showcase its reach and appeal.
And Hollywood had best watch out. It is unlikely that YouTube will stop here. And with Netflix's potential acquisition of Warner Brothers, the streaming game is about to get extremely interesting.
