The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the newest substantial transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, indicating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with steep reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this collaboration will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a release.
Over decades, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and computers.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our essential cultural touchstones" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This shift follows large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. Both options were seen as concerning for an industry that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on streaming sites will carry on to grow.
