The Oscars to Depart ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, representing the newest substantial shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, indicating that it signed a extended contract giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this collaboration will enable us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, ratings of the awards show have fallen, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "a key essential cultural touchstones" and said that working with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision follows major studios deal with challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has seen significant downsizing over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on online services will continue increasing.
