The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, signaling the newest significant shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be viewable as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community," remarked organization heads in a release.
For many years, ratings of the awards show have dropped, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers watching from cell phones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural touchstones" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of creativity and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious history".
ABC, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will retain rights for.
The move follows major studios deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were viewed as unfavourable for an industry that has seen severe reductions over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on online services will continue increasing.
