The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the most recent substantial transformation in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming 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, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on YouTube.
This is a further significant shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with severe reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this partnership will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the film community," said Academy leadership in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have fallen, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers streaming from cell phones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "a key fundamental cultural touchstones" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with major studios face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as unfavourable for an sector that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has chosen on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on online services will carry on to grow.
