The Oscars Will Leave Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest major shift in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, stating that it signed a long-term agreement giving the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for March 15th, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a statement.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have declined, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our vital cultural institutions" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of innovation and film lovers while adhering to the Oscars' storied history".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
The move coincides with film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has shifted towards streaming services as an alternative.
The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will continue increasing.
