The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest significant change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it finalized a long-term agreement giving YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
This is a further major upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, along with steep reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the cinematic world," stated the Academy's executives in a release.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This shift follows large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on online services will persist expanding.