The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the most recent significant shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it signed a extended contract granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is a further major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will permit us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the movie industry," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of artistic expression and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, said that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift follows large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the past several years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will carry on expanding.
