The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the newest major transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, stating that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on YouTube.
It's one more significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, ratings of the awards show have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, said that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This decision follows major studios face intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were considered unfavourable for an sector that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on to grow.
