The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, marking the most recent significant change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on this week, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is a further major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a statement.
Over decades, viewership of the televised event have declined, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our vital cultural touchstones" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
This decision follows film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has seen significant downsizing over the last few years.
Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has chosen digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will continue to grow.
