The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest substantial shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," stated the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, ratings of the ceremony have fallen, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers streaming from mobile devices and desktops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision follows film industry giants face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as problematic for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on online services will persist to grow.
