The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, representing the latest major shift in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, stating that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's one more major restructuring in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the movie industry," remarked organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have dropped, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our vital cultural touchstones" and said that partnering with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
The move follows film industry giants face challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were considered concerning for an sector that has witnessed severe reductions over the recent period.
Like big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on online services will continue increasing.
