The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the most recent significant change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.
This is another substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," remarked organization heads in a release.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have fallen, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and said that working with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision follows film industry giants deal with intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an sector that has experienced drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
The platform securing rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of streaming sites will carry on expanding.
