The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the most recent significant transformation in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, indicating that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's one more substantial shakeup in Hollywood, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, coupled with steep slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be positive for our film artists and the cinematic world," said Academy leadership in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the awards show have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences watching from mobile devices and desktops.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "spark a new generation of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
The move follows large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered problematic for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the last few years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on online services will continue expanding.
