The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, confirming that it signed a long-term agreement granting YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is one more substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, along with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the movie industry," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and noted that working with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious history".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision follows major studios face complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as concerning for an business that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
In common with major studios, cable networks have struggled as the audience has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of online services will continue increasing.
