The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the newest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is another substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," remarked organization heads in a release.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have fallen, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from cell phones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, said that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
The move comes as film industry giants deal with challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were considered problematic for an business that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has shifted towards streaming services instead.
The platform securing rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on online services will carry on to grow.
