The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest major transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the event will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
This is a further major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with drastic slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers streaming from cell phones and laptops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive referred to the Oscars "a key vital pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".
ABC, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move follows film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has experienced drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the public has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.
The platform securing rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on online services will carry on expanding.
