The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, stating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's another significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep production cuts.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this alliance will allow us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be positive for our Academy members and the cinematic world," remarked organization heads in a statement.
For many years, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and computers.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of innovation and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, said that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were viewed as problematic for an sector that has witnessed severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of digital platforms will continue increasing.
