The Academy Awards Are Exiting Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest significant change in the film industry.
The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on this week, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's another major restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe production cuts.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this collaboration will allow us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be positive for our Academy members and the film community," said organization heads in a release.
Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the televised event have fallen, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers tuning in from cell phones and desktops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "a key essential pillars of culture" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of innovation and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.
This shift coincides with large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were viewed as problematic for an industry that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.
In common with big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the audience has increasingly opted for on-demand video as an alternative.
YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will continue expanding.
