The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest major change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for five decades on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's a further significant restructuring in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, in addition to steep slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers streaming from cell phones and laptops.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "a key vital cultural touchstones" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
The move comes as film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were considered unfavourable for an business that has witnessed severe reductions over the last few years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has shifted towards streaming services as an alternative.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that reliance on streaming sites will continue to grow.
