The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, representing the most recent major shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract granting 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 the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be available live and for free on YouTube.
This is one more major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to steep production cuts.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be positive for our Academy members and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a announcement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "a key fundamental pillars of culture" and said that working with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of innovation and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious history".
ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, said that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift coincides with film industry giants face complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has chosen streaming services instead.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of digital platforms will continue expanding.
