The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest significant shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be viewable live and for free on YouTube.
It's another substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be beneficial for our membership and the cinematic world," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the awards show have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from mobile devices and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "among our vital cultural touchstones" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a new generation of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
The move coincides with film industry giants face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as concerning for an industry that has witnessed significant downsizing over the last few years.
In common with major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will persist expanding.
