The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the latest substantial change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible live and for free on YouTube.
This is another substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will enable us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," stated organization heads in a release.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have declined, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers tuning in from smartphones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "a key essential cultural touchstones" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of creativity and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift coincides with large entertainment companies deal with complex corporate battles. Both options were considered problematic for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the viewers has chosen digital platforms instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of streaming sites will persist increasing.
