The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the most recent major shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement awarding YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's a further substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a announcement.
For many years, audience numbers of the awards show have fallen, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers streaming from mobile devices and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "a key essential cultural institutions" and said that working with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as large entertainment companies face intricate takeover attempts. Both options were seen as concerning for an sector that has witnessed severe reductions over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on digital platforms will persist expanding.
