The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be accessible live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial restructuring in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural touchstones" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
The move follows large entertainment companies deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an sector that has experienced significant downsizing over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on streaming sites will persist increasing.
