Will the TV Era End? Academy Awards to be Exclusively Streamed on YouTube Starting in 2029

◆ Oscars Leaving TV

The Academy Awards, boasting the highest prestige in the world, have chosen a historic change. Starting in 2029, the winners of the Oscar trophy will be revealed not on TV channels but on YouTube. The prominent U.S. entertainment media Variety reported that the Academy has signed an exclusive streaming contract with YouTube, and as a result, the broadcasting platform for the awards ceremony will change starting in 2029.

◆ Ending a 68-Year Relationship with ABC

This decision signals a seismic shift in the U.S. broadcasting industry. The Academy Awards have been broadcast exclusively on the U.S. terrestrial broadcaster ABC since 1961. However, in recent years, a decline in global TV viewership and a drop in the awards ceremony's buzz have led to poor ratings, raising concerns about its future. YouTube seized this opportunity to engage in aggressive negotiations and ultimately succeeded in securing the broadcasting rights. The contract period is from 2029 to 2033, spanning five years.

◆ First Digital Transition of 'EGOT'

With this, the Academy becomes the first of the four major U.S. pop culture awards, known as 'EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony)', to abandon TV broadcasting entirely and fully transition to an online streaming platform. Experts have analyzed this as a "symbolic event showing the shift of power from legacy media to digital media." Meanwhile, the 98th Academy Awards, held under the existing system, is scheduled to take place on March 15 of next year (local time).