The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's one more major restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with severe production cuts.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the movie industry," stated Academy leadership in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the ceremony have declined, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This decision coincides with film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as problematic for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.
Like big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen on-demand video instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that dependence on streaming sites will persist increasing.
