The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, marking the most recent major change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, stating that it entered into a extended contract giving the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is a further substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an worldwide body, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be positive for our film artists and the cinematic world," stated the Academy's executives in a statement.
For many years, viewership of the televised event have declined, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences watching from cell phones and desktops.
In a related comment, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and said that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has aired the awards since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
This decision comes as large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were viewed as concerning for an industry that has seen severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.
YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of online services will carry on to grow.
