The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in 2029, marking the latest major shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, confirming that it finalized a extended contract giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
This is one more major upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to steep slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
For many years, audience numbers of the televised event have declined, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers tuning in from smartphones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift coincides with major studios deal with complex corporate battles. These potential deals were considered unfavourable for an industry that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for streaming services as an alternative.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will persist to grow.
