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 2029, marking the latest major transformation in the film industry.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, stating that it finalized a multi-year deal granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.

The awards show, set for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.

This is another major restructuring in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.

"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will enable us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the cinematic world," remarked organization heads in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and computers.

In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our vital cultural institutions" and said that working with the Academy would "spark a new generation of creativity and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated history".

The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, said that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

The move coincides with large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were viewed as problematic for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the recent period.

Similar to major studios, cable networks have struggled as the public has chosen digital platforms as an alternative.

YouTube winning the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of digital platforms will persist expanding.