The Oscars Are Exiting ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, marking the latest major shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement granting YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for five decades on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is one more significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our essential cultural touchstones" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
This shift comes as large entertainment companies confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an sector that has witnessed severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards streaming services as an alternative.
YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on online services will continue increasing.
