The Academy Awards to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial change in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract granting YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on the digital platform.
It's a further major upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the awards show have dropped, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' storied legacy".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with film industry giants confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were viewed as concerning for an business that has witnessed severe reductions over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on online services will persist to grow.
