The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest substantial transformation in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it entered into a extended contract giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is one more substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with severe reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the ceremony have declined, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences tuning in from cell phones and laptops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
ABC, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision coincides with large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were considered unfavourable for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the recent period.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will persist expanding.
