The Oscars to Depart ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the most recent major transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, confirming that it signed a long-term agreement granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's another significant shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, coupled with severe slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a announcement.
Over decades, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "among our essential cultural touchstones" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision comes as large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were considered problematic for an sector that has witnessed severe reductions over the last few years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on to grow.
