The Academy Awards to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the most recent substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a extended contract giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's another major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, audience numbers of the televised event have fallen, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of creativity and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This shift follows film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as concerning for an sector that has experienced drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on online services will persist to grow.
