The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence broadcasting solely on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the most recent substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.
It's a further substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the televised event have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences watching from mobile devices and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "a key fundamental pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as large entertainment companies face intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that reliance on streaming sites will carry on to grow.
