The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the most recent major shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, stating that it entered into a extended contract giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is another significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the film community," remarked organization heads in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have dropped, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and laptops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision coincides with large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an industry that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of online services will persist to grow.
