The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, marking the latest substantial shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it finalized a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible live and for free on the digital platform.
It's one more major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to steep production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the televised event have dropped, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and desktops.
In a related comment, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "a key fundamental cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of innovation and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were considered problematic for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the last few years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has chosen streaming services instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will persist expanding.
