The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it finalized a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's a further substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, coupled with severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the cinematic world," said the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the televised event have declined, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers tuning in from mobile devices and computers.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and said that partnering with the Academy would "spark a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This decision coincides with large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an business that has experienced significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that the dominance of digital platforms will continue expanding.
