The Academy Awards to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the newest major transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.
The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has aired for a half a century on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be viewable as a free live stream on YouTube.
This is another substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an international organization, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the cinematic world," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.
For many years, audience numbers of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".
The broadcast network, which has streamed the awards since 1976, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.
This shift follows film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as problematic for an sector that has experienced drastic cuts over the last few years.
Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has chosen digital platforms instead.
The platform securing the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will continue increasing.
