The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a extended contract giving the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on YouTube.
This is one more substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the film community," said organization heads in a release.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the televised event have dropped, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from cell phones and laptops.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "one of our vital cultural institutions" and said that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This shift comes as film industry giants face complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.
Like major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on increasing.
