The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the most recent major shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be available live and for free on the digital platform.
It's a further significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," stated organization heads in a release.
Over decades, audience numbers of the awards show have dropped, 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 related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "among our vital cultural touchstones" and noted that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
The move comes as major studios face challenging merger discussions. Both options were viewed as unfavourable for an industry that has seen drastic cuts over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards streaming services instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on digital platforms will persist increasing.
