The Academy Awards to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the most recent substantial change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a multi-year deal granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be viewable as a free live stream on YouTube.
It's one more major restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our Academy members and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a announcement.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have declined, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and computers.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, commented that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
The move follows film industry giants face challenging merger discussions. Both options were seen as problematic for an sector that has experienced severe reductions over the last few years.
Like major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will persist expanding.
