The Oscars to Depart ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it entered into a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, along with steep production cuts.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the cinematic world," said Academy leadership in a release.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "a key vital pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This shift coincides with large entertainment companies confront intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the recent period.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the viewers has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on digital platforms will carry on to grow.
