The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, representing the most recent significant change in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a multi-year deal giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial restructuring in Hollywood, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the movie industry," stated Academy leadership in a announcement.
Over decades, viewership of the televised event have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers tuning in from cell phones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "among our essential pillars of culture" and said that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious history".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift coincides with major studios confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were considered concerning for an business that has witnessed severe reductions over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards clearly signals that reliance on streaming sites will continue to grow.
