The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the newest major change in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's a further significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with steep slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the movie industry," remarked organization heads in a announcement.
For many years, viewership of the awards show have declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift follows large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. Both options were considered unfavourable for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
The platform securing rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will carry on expanding.
