The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the most recent significant shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is a further substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," remarked Academy leadership in a release.
For many years, viewership of the awards show have dropped, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers streaming from smartphones and desktops.
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 "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This decision comes as large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as concerning for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that dependence on digital platforms will continue to grow.
