Cinema’s most famous awards night, the Oscars, has undergone a radical change with the acquisition of rights broadcast by YouTube which will come into force from 2029. This was reported by the … its own academy this Wednesday, which moves from the American television channel ABC to digital streaming.
This is one of the biggest changes in the history of the awards gala, which will be presented exclusively in the digital world with its 101st edition, which will continue until 2033, ending a contract between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC network in force since 1976.
The event can be followed for free on YouTube, Google’s platform dedicated to videos and live broadcasts, which in four years will host an evening which last year brought together nearly 20 million viewers only in the United States. The company has also already guaranteed that “red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content and access to the Governors’ Ball” will continue on the evening’s schedule.
In the words of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, released in an official statement, “a partnership with the Academy will inspire a new generation of creatives and film fans, while remaining true to the historic legacy of the Oscars.”
They also said that Google Arts & Culture “will provide digital access to select Academy Museum exhibits and help digitize the Academy’s collection.”
The Academy’s management hopes that this movement will “expand access to the work of the Academy to the widest possible public throughout the world”, by directly accessing the 2 billion viewers that YouTube encrypts its global audience. “We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our cinematic history on an unprecedented global scale,” they rejoice.
For its part, YouTube claims to contribute “through features such as subtitles and audio tracks available in several languages”.
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