The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the newest major transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it entered into a multi-year deal giving the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further significant shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with steep production cuts.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the awards show have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated history".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision follows major studios face complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as concerning for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on digital platforms will carry on increasing.
