The Oscars Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the latest major change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.
It's another major restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will allow us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community," said Academy leadership in a statement.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the awards show have fallen, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from cell phones and computers.
In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.
This decision follows film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has witnessed drastic cuts over the recent period.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of digital platforms will persist to grow.