The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will commence airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest substantial transformation in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a extended contract awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is another significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to drastic reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be positive for our membership and the cinematic world," remarked organization heads in a statement.
For many years, ratings of the awards show have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers watching from mobile devices and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of creativity and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".
ABC, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This shift follows film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an business that has witnessed significant downsizing over the past several years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the audience has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars clearly signals that reliance on online services will persist increasing.
