The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in 2029.

The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest major change in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, indicating that it finalized a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.

The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform.

This is another major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with severe production cuts.

"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," stated Academy leadership in a announcement.

For many years, viewership of the ceremony have fallen, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and desktops.

In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our essential cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".

The broadcast network, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.

The move comes as major studios face complex corporate battles. Such proposals were viewed as unfavourable for an sector that has experienced severe reductions over the recent period.

In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.

YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars further suggests that reliance on digital platforms will continue to grow.