The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, representing the newest significant change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the event will be available live and for free on the digital platform.
This is one more major restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," stated organization heads in a statement.
Over decades, viewership of the televised event have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and laptops.
In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and noted that working with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
The move follows large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an industry that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services as an alternative.
YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of online services will continue increasing.
