The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.

The Academy Awards will begin broadcasting solely on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the most recent substantial shift in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for March 15th, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on YouTube.

This is one more significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with severe reductions in filming.

"The Academy is an international organization, and this collaboration will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be positive for our Academy members and the film community," stated organization heads in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the ceremony have fallen, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from mobile devices and laptops.

In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive described the Oscars "one of our essential cultural institutions" and noted that working with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".

The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, said that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.

This decision coincides with film industry giants deal with challenging merger discussions. Such proposals were considered unfavourable for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the last few years.

In common with big production houses, cable networks have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms as an alternative.

YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of online services will carry on expanding.