The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029.
The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the most recent major transformation in the film industry.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.
The awards show, which is planned for March 15th, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.
It's one more significant shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with severe production cuts.
"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the cinematic world," remarked the Academy's executives in a release.
For many years, viewership of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of younger viewers tuning in from smartphones and computers.
In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "a key fundamental cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".
ABC, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.
This shift comes as major studios face complex corporate battles. These potential deals were considered problematic for an sector that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.
Like major studios, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.
The platform securing broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that dependence on digital platforms will persist increasing.
