The Oscars to Depart ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the newest substantial transformation in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the cinematic world," said the Academy's executives in a statement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the ceremony have declined, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This decision comes as film industry giants face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were considered concerning for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will persist increasing.
