The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the latest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it finalized a multi-year deal granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for March 15th, has aired for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's one more significant restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our membership and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, said that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
The move follows major studios deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were considered unfavourable for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the last few years.
Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of online services will continue increasing.
