The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the most recent significant transformation in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has been televised for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with severe slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a release.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the televised event have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from cell phones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of innovation and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied history".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
The move follows large entertainment companies confront intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as problematic for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on online services will persist expanding.
