The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the most recent significant transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, confirming that it entered into a long-term agreement granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with steep reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have fallen, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from cell phones and desktops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our essential pillars of culture" and noted that working with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of innovation and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, said that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift follows film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as problematic for an industry that has seen severe reductions over the past several years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the audience has shifted towards streaming services instead.
YouTube winning the license to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on digital platforms will persist to grow.
