The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the most recent major change in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's one more substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, along with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," said organization heads in a statement.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have declined, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "a key vital pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This shift follows film industry giants confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as concerning for an industry that has seen significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards streaming services instead.
The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards clearly signals that reliance on streaming sites will carry on expanding.
