The Academy Awards to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest major transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, stating that it finalized a long-term agreement giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is another major shakeup in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this collaboration will enable us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the movie industry," remarked organization heads in a announcement.
For many years, viewership of the televised event have declined, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our essential cultural institutions" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This decision comes as major studios deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an sector that has seen severe reductions over the last few years.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will carry on to grow.
