The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the newest significant change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's another substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be positive for our Academy members and the cinematic world," said Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the awards show have declined, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from cell phones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and said that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision follows major studios face challenging merger discussions. Both options were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has seen significant downsizing over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on online services will persist expanding.
