The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it entered into a long-term agreement giving YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be accessible live and for free on YouTube.
This is one more significant shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community," stated organization heads in a release.
For many years, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has aired the awards since 1976, said that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were considered problematic for an industry that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on increasing.
