The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the newest major shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a long-term agreement awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is another substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, along with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," remarked the Academy's executives in a announcement.
Over decades, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key essential pillars of culture" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
The move comes as film industry giants deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has experienced significant downsizing over the last few years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will continue expanding.
