The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on YouTube in 2029, signaling the most recent substantial change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's a further substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with steep production cuts.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, audience numbers of the televised event have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and desktops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "one of our essential cultural touchstones" and said that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision coincides with film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were considered unfavourable for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the last few years.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube winning the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of online services will persist to grow.
