The Oscars to Depart ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest significant transformation in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible live and for free on the digital platform.
This is another substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this collaboration will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the ceremony have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and noted that working with the Academy would "spark a new generation of innovation and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift follows large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were viewed as unfavourable for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have struggled as the public has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on digital platforms will continue to grow.
