The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it entered into a multi-year deal giving the streaming service 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. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," 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 significant number of younger viewers tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and noted that working with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
The move follows large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has experienced significant downsizing over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of streaming sites will persist increasing.
