🔗 Share this article The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on the Video Platform Beginning in the Year 2029. The Oscars ceremony are set to start airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the newest significant transformation in Hollywood. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on this week, confirming that it signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033. The Oscars, set for March 15th, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on YouTube. It's a further major shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic production cuts. "Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will permit us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," remarked Academy leadership in a statement. For many years, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, though there was a small rise in recent years, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and computers. In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "one of our vital cultural institutions" and added that partnering with the Academy would "spark a new generation of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' storied heritage". The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will continue to air. The move comes as large entertainment companies confront challenging merger discussions. Both options were seen as problematic for an industry that has seen significant downsizing over the past several years. Like major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the audience has shifted towards streaming services instead. YouTube winning the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on online services will carry on increasing.