The Academy Awards Are Exiting ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Starting in 2029.

The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest significant change in Hollywood.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on this week, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on the digital platform.

It's a further major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, coupled with severe reductions in filming.

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

For many years, viewership of the awards show have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences watching from mobile devices and desktops.

In a separate statement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural touchstones" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a new generation of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' storied legacy".

The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

This decision follows film industry giants confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as concerning for an sector that has witnessed significant downsizing over the last few years.

Like major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the public has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.

YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that the dominance of online services will carry on to grow.