The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029.
The Academy Awards will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the most recent substantial transformation in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on this week, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.
This is one more significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with 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 biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a release.
For many years, viewership of the televised event have declined, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops.
In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".
ABC, which has aired the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision follows major studios deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were viewed as unfavourable for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the past several years.
In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms as an alternative.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will persist expanding.
