The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the latest significant shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with severe reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the film community," stated organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the ceremony have declined, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
The move comes as film industry giants confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as concerning for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the last few years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen streaming services instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on digital platforms will carry on expanding.
