The Oscars to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the newest significant change in Hollywood.
The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it entered into a extended contract awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, set for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, coupled with steep reductions in filming.
"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will allow us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," said Academy leadership in a release.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and said that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of creativity and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This shift comes as large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the last few years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has chosen digital platforms as an alternative.
YouTube winning the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will continue to grow.
