The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the latest significant shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, confirming that it entered into a extended contract granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable in real-time without charge on YouTube.
It's another significant shakeup in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, coupled with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this collaboration will allow us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a statement.
Over decades, ratings of the televised event have declined, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from mobile devices and desktops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "one of our vital cultural institutions" and noted that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, commented that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.
This decision coincides with major studios confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as concerning for an industry that has witnessed severe reductions over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, cable networks have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that dependence on online services will persist expanding.
