Are YouTube Oscars broadcast rights the next trophy in the streaming wars? Luxury audiences from Los Angeles to Berlin are asking the same question this week.
Bloomberg reports the platform has approached the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences about a deal that could supplant Disney’s ABC after 2028.
That is a seismic possibility for culture capitals, where awards night means private screenings and red carpet viewing parties. If YouTube lands the Oscars, it would signal a new era in which creators, advertisers, and viewers converge on one global stage.
Why the Oscars broadcast rights are suddenly in play
The Academy’s exclusive negotiation window with ABC lapsed in March, which means the field is open. According to Bloomberg, YouTube initiated the conversation. Since ABC has aired the show since 1976, any shift would be historic, yet the timing makes sense. The Oscars audience has eroded from a peak above 46 million in 2000 to an average of 19.69 million in 2025, even though the ceremony simulcast on Hulu alongside ABC. That softening creates an opening for a new partner that can blend massive reach with fresh formats.
For audiences in Los Angeles or Manhattan, the implications go beyond bragging rights. If the Academy moves, the Oscars could become the most ambitious test of live event migration from legacy broadcast to a global digital arena.
Creators meet couture, red carpet gets rewired
From YouTube’s vantage point, the Oscars are an unmatched marketing engine. The platform has spent years elevating homegrown stars to mainstream relevance. Placing those creators as live commentators and interviewers on the red carpet would bridge Hollywood prestige and creator culture in real time. Think exclusive backstage Shorts, live companion streams, and shoppable moments for fashion houses beloved in Miami Beach and Berlin.
This is also where YouTube’s scale matters. The company already proved it can carry appointment viewing with NFL Sunday Ticket, which accelerated its profile as the most watched platform on U.S. TV screens. That playbook, adapted for awards night, could mean multi-feed experiences on YouTube TV, a premium main broadcast, creator hosted alt feeds, and a dedicated Shorts carousel that surfaces highlights for San Francisco or Chicago viewers who join late.
Economics, ad innovation, and the luxury audience
YouTube Oscars broadcast rights would unlock an ad canvas that traditional linear TV struggles to match. Precision targeting, interactive formats, and brand safety controls appeal to luxury advertisers courting Washington DC insiders or Hong Kong movie lovers. Imagine premium pre show slates for couture partners, clickable lookbooks during arrivals, and limited edition drops tied to Best Picture segments that convert instantly.
For the Academy, a hybrid model mixing subscription revenue from YouTube TV with performance priced campaigns could stabilize economics that annual ratings swings once rattled.
Crucially, this does not require abandoning broadcast sensibilities. A flagship linear style feed can coexist with interactive sidecars. The Oscars thrive on ritual. The difference is optionality. Viewers in Aspen Colorado may watch the traditional show on a big screen, while friends in Atlanta jump into creator commentary without losing the thread.
How to keep the show timeless
Prestige shows carry delicate brand equity. Live chat toxicity, fragmenting attention, and the temptation to over gamify are real risks. The Academy would need strict moderation, a refined design system, and guardrails that keep the telecast cinematic. That means controlled latency, a measured pace for interactive prompts, and a curatorial red carpet that treats talent with the gravitas audiences in Los Angeles and Manhattan expect.
The rewards can outweigh the risks if execution stays tasteful. The Oscars are still a global ritual. A platform that respects the temple while opening new doors can grow the tent. As the press release’s framing puts it,
“And the Oscars broadcast goes to…YouTube?”
The answer depends on whether both sides can pair innovation with restraint.
How insiders should prepare
Studios, publicists, and luxury brands should scenario plan now. Build creator forward red carpet strategies, develop shoppable storytelling that feels premium, and rehearse multi feed production flows.
The Oscars have always mirrored the industry’s center of gravity. Today that center tilts toward platforms that collapse viewing, conversation, and commerce. If YouTube ultimately wins YouTube Oscars broadcast rights, awards night could become the world’s most elegant live stream, engineered for creators and couture alike. That future looks less like a leap and more like a natural evolution. Prepare accordingly.
Further reading: Bloomberg, YouTube, The Academy
