The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, stating that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be accessible live and for free on the digital platform.
It's a further significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a statement.
For many years, viewership of the televised event have dropped, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers watching from mobile devices and computers.
In a related comment, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air.
This decision follows film industry giants deal with challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has witnessed severe reductions over the past several years.
Similar to big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the public has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will persist expanding.
