The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the latest significant change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it finalized a extended contract awarding YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's one more major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe production cuts.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," stated the Academy's executives in a announcement.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious history".
ABC, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift comes as large entertainment companies confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of digital platforms will continue expanding.
