The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, representing the most recent significant change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a extended contract awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's a further substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, along with drastic reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the ceremony have fallen, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied heritage".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
This shift coincides with large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the last few years.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on online services will persist to grow.
