The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the newest major shift in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's a further substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, coupled with steep slashes to movie budgets.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a release.
Throughout a long period, viewership of the awards show have dropped, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences watching from cell phones and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of artistic expression and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
The move coincides with major studios deal with challenging merger discussions. Both options were viewed as problematic for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the past several years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has chosen digital platforms instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will persist increasing.
