Watch Dolly Parton’s emotional Oscar honorary acceptance speech.
Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
After decades on ABC, the Oscars are moving to YouTube.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on December 17 that it has signed a multi-year agreement with YouTube, giving the popular streaming platform exclusive worldwide rights to the Oscars, starting with the 101st Academy Awards ceremony in 2029. The contract runs until 2033.
The deal marks a major change in the viewing experience for the prestigious awards ceremony, with live coverage of the Oscars, including red carpet and behind-the-scenes content and access to Governors Ball, now available for free on YouTube.
“YouTube will help make the Oscars accessible to the Academy’s growing global audience through features such as closed captioning and audio tracks available in multiple languages,” the Academy said in a news release announcing the move.
A surprising move is the recent migration of award shows to streaming services. Netflix will begin broadcasting the Actor Awards (formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards) in 2024, and this year’s 97th Academy Awards ceremony was broadcast live for the first time on Hulu alongside ABC.
The 2025 Oscars had the highest ratings in five years, with 19.7 million viewers, after a slowdown due to the pandemic. But Disney said it also saw “dramatic growth” among younger viewers who watch on digital devices. Overall Oscar ratings have been on the decline in recent years, and by comparison, the 2014 ceremony drew 43 million viewers.
In addition to the ceremony itself, the Oscar YouTube channel also provides access to other Academy events, including the Governor’s Awards, Oscar Nominations Announcement, Oscar Nominations Luncheon, Student Academy Awards, Science and Technology Awards, as well as interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, film education programs, and podcasts.
“We are excited to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to make it the home of future Oscar ceremonies and year-round Academy programming,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement.
“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will benefit Academy members and the film community by allowing us to expand access to Academy films to as wide an audience as possible around the world,” the statement said. “This collaboration leverages YouTube’s vast reach and injects innovative opportunities for participation into Oscar and other Academy programs while honoring our heritage. We can celebrate film, inspire a new generation of filmmakers, and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”
YouTube’s chief congratulated the move.
“The Oscars are an important cultural institution for us, celebrating excellence in storytelling and artistry,” YouTube CEO Neil Mohan said in a statement. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this arts and entertainment extravaganza to audiences around the world will stay true to Oscar’s storied legacy while inspiring a new generation of creatives and film lovers.”
Contributor: Brian Truitt
