by Thinus Ferreira
From 2029, after more than 40 years, the annual Academy Awards ceremony in the United States will no longer be broadcast on M-Net on Canal+'s MultiChoice, since M-Net is losing access to the rights.
As what used to be the collective exclusive parts - and that which still remains of traditional linear television continues to fracture, crack off and is swept away - M-Net (DStv 101) has lost the rights to the Academy Awards and the Oscars from 2029, after the American and global rights have been snapped up by YouTube.
It represents another chip away at what used to make M-Net a must-have premium pay-TV channel for DStv subscribers in South Africa and across the Rest of Africa (RoA) territory for decades.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States announced that YouTube has acquired the rights to the Oscars in both the United States and worldwide, from 2029.
Disney owned the rights to the Oscars for the United States where it placed and showed it on ABC.
Disney also owned the global rights and sold the Oscars through its international distribution arm, Buena Vista International, on a country-by-country basis to various broadcasters and channels, like for instance M-Net for South Africa and Africa.
That now falls away with M-Net unable to get access to the Oscars from 2029, even if it wanted to.
South Africa viewers and viewers elsewhere across the African continent will be able to watch the annual Oscars free on YouTube which has been pay-TV content in South Africa and for the continent for decades.
As part of the deal with youTube, YouTube will also do an Oscars red carpet preshow and behind-the-scenes content while the Oscars ceremony is on, as well as the Oscars nominations announcement, the Governors Awards, the Oscars nominees luncheon, the Student Academy Awards ceremony; the Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony; Academy member and filmmaker interviews, and also film education programmes and podcasts.
Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO, in a prepared quote in a statement, says "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."
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in its statement, says it has signed a "multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars, beginning in 2029 with the 101st Oscars ceremony and running through 2033".
"The Oscars, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, and more, will be available live and for free to over 2 billion viewers around the world on YouTube, and to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States."
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor, note that "We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming."
