The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest substantial change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.
It's another substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, along with steep slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our membership and the movie industry," stated organization heads in a release.
For many years, audience numbers of the televised event have fallen, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key vital cultural touchstones" and said that working with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".
ABC, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
This shift coincides with film industry giants deal with intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were considered concerning for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube winning the license to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of online services will carry on expanding.
