The Oscars to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the most recent major shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is a further significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," stated Academy leadership in a release.
For many years, ratings of the awards show have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "among our vital pillars of culture" and said that working with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
ABC, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
The move follows major studios face challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as concerning for an business that has seen severe reductions over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has shifted towards streaming services instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will continue expanding.
