The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's one more substantial shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a statement.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the ceremony have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
This decision coincides with major studios deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards streaming services instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will persist increasing.
