The Oscars to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the most recent significant change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is one more significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic production cuts.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the ceremony have fallen, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "a key fundamental pillars of culture" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
The move comes as film industry giants deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has witnessed drastic cuts over the recent period.
In common with major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on online services will continue to grow.
