The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the latest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal giving the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more substantial shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to steep slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the cinematic world," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences tuning in from cell phones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and said that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' storied legacy".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were considered concerning for an industry that has experienced severe reductions over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has chosen streaming services instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of digital platforms will persist increasing.
