The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest significant transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it entered into a extended contract giving YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on YouTube.
This is another substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," remarked organization heads in a release.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the awards show have fallen, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and desktops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural touchstones" and noted that working with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This shift coincides with major studios confront intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has witnessed significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on online services will persist to grow.
