The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence airing only on YouTube in 2029, representing the newest substantial change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is a further major shakeup in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, coupled with severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will allow us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the film community," said Academy leadership in a release.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have fallen, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers streaming from cell phones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
This shift comes as major studios deal with intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as problematic for an industry that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on online services will continue increasing.
