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

The Academy Awards will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the latest major change in Hollywood.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a extended contract awarding the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on YouTube.

This is one more substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic production cuts.

"The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community," stated the Academy's executives in a announcement.

Over decades, viewership of the awards show have fallen, even if there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and desktops.

In a related comment, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key essential cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated history".

The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was looking forward "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.

This decision comes as film industry giants confront complex corporate battles. These potential deals were considered unfavourable for an industry that has seen severe reductions over the recent period.

Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms as an alternative.

The platform securing rights to the Oscars further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will continue increasing.