The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the most recent substantial shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it signed a long-term agreement granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's a further substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this collaboration will permit us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," stated organization heads in a statement.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have declined, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our essential cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This decision follows large entertainment companies deal with complex corporate battles. These potential deals were considered problematic for an sector that has witnessed drastic cuts over the recent period.
Like big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has chosen digital platforms instead.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on to grow.
