The Academy Awards Will Leave Broadcast TV and Stream on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.
The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the latest major change in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a extended contract giving the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.
The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be available live and for free on YouTube.
This is another significant upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with severe reductions in filming.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a statement.
Over decades, audience numbers of the televised event have fallen, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and laptops.
In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our essential pillars of culture" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' storied history".
ABC, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, commented that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.
The move comes as large entertainment companies confront challenging merger discussions. These potential deals were seen as problematic for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.
In common with major studios, cable networks have faced issues as the audience has shifted towards on-demand video instead.
YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars clearly signals that dependence on digital platforms will continue to grow.
