🔗 Share this article The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in the Year 2029. The Academy Awards will begin airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the most recent substantial change in Hollywood. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a extended contract awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033. The awards show, set for March 15th, has aired for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on YouTube. This is a further significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with drastic reductions in filming. "The Academy is an global institution, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the movie industry," stated the Academy's executives in a statement. Throughout a long period, viewership of the ceremony have declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from smartphones and desktops. In a separate statement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural touchstones" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious legacy". ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host. This decision coincides with large entertainment companies face challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered unfavourable for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the recent period. Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services instead. YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that reliance on online services will persist increasing.