The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a extended contract granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is another major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, along with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the awards show have fallen, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers tuning in from smartphones and computers.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
The move follows large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an sector that has experienced significant downsizing over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of streaming sites will carry on to grow.
