The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, signaling the newest significant change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal granting YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is another substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "a key vital cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision follows film industry giants face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were considered concerning for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
Like major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on online services will persist to grow.
