YouTube Scores Oscars Rights, Hollywood Wonders Who Invited Them

KEY POINTS

•YouTube secured global Oscars broadcasting rights from 2029 to 2033, replacing ABC and Disney broadcasts.
•YouTube TV currently leads with a 12.9% share of U.S. TV viewing, surpassing Disney and NBCUniversal.
•The deal includes red carpet coverage and Google’s digital access to Academy Museum exhibits.

In a plot twist Hollywood didn’t see coming, YouTube snagged global exclusive rights to the Oscars from 2029 through 2033, effectively telling ABC and Disney to 'see you at the next infomercial.' This game-changing deal means the prestigious Academy Awards will no longer bellow through your TV’s loudspeakers but stream endlessly on everyone’s favorite cat-video hub—YouTube and YouTube TV. Neal Mohan, YouTube's CEO, declared this is all about 'inspiring new generations' while quietly preparing us for endless buffering during the red carpet. YouTube’s living room conquest builds on its octopus grip on screen time — it boasts a dominant 12.9% TV viewing share, crushing Disney’s 11.4%. Oh, and 73% of U.S. YouTube viewers prefer watching 30-minute or longer videos now—so Oscar speeches might get a new serialized theme song. Meanwhile, Google’s artsy side rolls in with digital museum tours, because nothing says ‘cinema royalty’ like a pixelated painting. Buckle up; popcorn and skip buttons ready.