The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, signaling the latest major transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a long-term agreement awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the event will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is one more major restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will permit us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a release.
Over decades, ratings of the awards show have fallen, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and computers.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied heritage".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision coincides with major studios confront intricate takeover attempts. Both options were viewed as unfavourable for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that dependence on online services will carry on to grow.
