The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the latest substantial transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a long-term agreement giving the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the show will be accessible live and for free on the digital platform.
This is one more significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to drastic production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be positive for our film artists and the movie industry," stated organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the televised event have fallen, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "a key vital cultural institutions" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This decision follows large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has experienced significant downsizing over the last few years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on online services will persist to grow.
