The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in 2029, marking the latest major shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, stating that it signed a extended contract giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this partnership will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have declined, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with major studios deal with challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the last few years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has increasingly opted for on-demand video as an alternative.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on online services will carry on expanding.
