The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest substantial shift in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.
It's one more major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, in addition to steep slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this collaboration will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a announcement.
For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers streaming from mobile devices and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a new generation of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
The move follows large entertainment companies confront intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as concerning for an industry that has witnessed drastic cuts over the last few years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards streaming services as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will persist expanding.
