The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, marking the newest major shift in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of creativity and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, commented that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This shift comes as film industry giants face complex corporate battles. Both options were viewed as concerning for an business that has witnessed drastic cuts over the recent period.
Like major studios, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will continue expanding.
