The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest significant change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is another major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to drastic reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will permit us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, viewership of the ceremony have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a related comment, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our vital cultural touchstones" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision comes as large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the last few years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on digital platforms will continue to grow.
