The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the most recent substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal giving YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to steep production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be positive for our membership and the movie industry," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
The move comes as large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has witnessed significant downsizing over the last few years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has chosen on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will carry on to grow.
