In a move that signals a definitive turning point for live television, the Academy Awards are leaving broadcast TV behind. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that the Oscars will depart their longtime home at ABC to begin streaming exclusively on YouTube.
The new partnership kicks off in 2029, marking a massive shift for one of the world’s most-watched entertainment events. Under the agreement, YouTube will hold global streaming rights for the ceremony through 2033.
While the move represents the future, the Academy isn’t cutting ties with traditional TV just yet.
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ABC will continue to broadcast the ceremony through 2028, fittingly allowing the network to air the historic 100th Oscars before the broadcast torch is passed to the streaming giant.
This deal represents a “seismic shift” for the industry, acknowledging that global audiences—and younger viewers in particular—are no longer tethered to cable boxes for marquee live events.
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