The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the latest substantial shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement awarding the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the event will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's another substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, along with severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have declined, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers watching from mobile devices and computers.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "a key vital cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied heritage".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift coincides with large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. Such proposals were considered problematic for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the recent period.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of digital platforms will continue expanding.
