The new deal means the Academy completes its global sales in a single transaction, and that the broadcaster – YouTube – effectively drops all barriers to access. That has never been an issue in Australia, where free-to-air networks have always owned the rights to the Oscars, but in various international markets, pay TV platforms have taken the rights.
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The YouTube deal includes more than just the Oscars themselves: also packaged into the arrangement are a red carpet pre-show and behind-the-scenes “in-show content”, the live “nominations announcement” telecast, and other Oscar spin-off events.
They include the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, and the Scientific and Technical Oscars. The Academy said today they would also include official Oscar podcasts and other content still in development.
No financial details have been disclosed, but chatter in Los Angeles is that the deal is worth “nine figures”, that is to say, hundreds of millions of dollars. To compare, the existing ABC deal is worth close to but definitely below US$100 million ($151 million).
YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan today described the Oscars as “one of our essential cultural institutions, honouring excellence in storytelling and artistry”.
“Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy,” he said.
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