The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the newest major transformation in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it entered into a extended contract awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is another significant restructuring in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," said Academy leadership in a release.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers streaming from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "a key vital cultural touchstones" and noted that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
The move comes as film industry giants face intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an business that has seen severe reductions over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will continue increasing.
