The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest major transformation in the film industry.
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 exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The awards show, set for 15 March, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.
This is a further significant restructuring in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe production cuts.
"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the movie industry," remarked organization heads in a statement.
Throughout a long period, ratings of the televised event have declined, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated history".
The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will retain rights for.
This decision comes as major studios confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an sector that has experienced significant downsizing over the recent period.
In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has chosen on-demand video instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will continue to grow.
