The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on YouTube in 2029, marking the newest substantial shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement giving the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's another substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the cinematic world," stated Academy leadership in a statement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have fallen, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and said that working with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of artistic expression and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This decision follows major studios face intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered concerning for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on streaming sites will persist to grow.
