The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the newest major shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the event will be available live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will allow us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the cinematic world," said organization heads in a statement.
Over decades, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences watching from cell phones and desktops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "a key vital cultural touchstones" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as film industry giants face challenging merger discussions. Both options were seen as problematic for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the past several years.
Like major studios, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has chosen digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on digital platforms will persist to grow.
