By Piyush M Padwale
After a remarkable 53 years as a partnership, ABC is all set to say goodbye to its partnership with the Academy Awards, also known as Oscars. The award ceremony is all set to go global on YouTube, free to stream, starting 2029.
ABC has signed on to continue airing the Oscars through 2028, including the 100th Oscars Anniversary Show.
Notably, this is particularly triggered by the changing habits of viewership, which is gradually moving from traditional broadcast television to digital mediums.
Also, recent television ratings indicate a tremendous drop in the audience base to less than 20 million viewers in recent years from close to 55 million in 1999, making it even more imperative for the Academy to investigate other mediums.
The worldwide outreach of YouTube, with more than 2 billion subscribers, will also prove to be instrumental in increasing the global outreach of the Oscars, particularly among the younger generations.
Moreover, the live streaming event will not focus on the main event only. Rather, the live streaming service will include the coverage on the red carpet arrivals, Governors Awards, nomination announcement sessions, along with some other sessions that might include the backstage details, thereby allowing the viewers to witness the whole event.
The Oscars began in 1929 and are among the most honored award shows globally. It was broadcast on NBC in 1953 until it moved to ABC in 1976.
Starting 2029, the world will have the benefit of enjoying the Oscars for free using more convenient computer and mobile technologies, thanks to the efforts of YouTube.
This marks a groundbreaking leap from traditional broadcasting to streaming world TV coverage in one of the most celebrated events in the cinematic world, reflecting the manner in which an otherwise renowned body such as the Oscars realizes the future of cinematic relatability in embracing the streaming revolution.