The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the latest major shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, confirming that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be accessible live and for free on YouTube.
It's another significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, audience numbers of the ceremony have fallen, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious history".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift follows major studios deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as problematic for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video as an alternative.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on online services will persist to grow.
