The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, representing the latest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.
It's a further major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," said organization heads in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "a key essential cultural touchstones" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
The move follows film industry giants deal with challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were considered concerning for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has chosen on-demand video instead.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on digital platforms will continue increasing.
