The Academy Awards Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.

The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the most recent major change in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract giving the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.

The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been televised for a half a century on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the event will be accessible in real-time without charge on YouTube.

This is another significant shakeup in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with severe reductions in filming.

"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will permit us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience attainable - which will be positive for our Academy members and the film community," remarked Academy leadership in a announcement.

For many years, audience numbers of the televised event have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences watching from smartphones and desktops.

In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key vital cultural touchstones" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a new generation of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".

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

This decision follows large entertainment companies face intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has seen severe reductions over the last few years.

In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.

YouTube winning rights to the Oscars clearly signals that dependence on online services will carry on expanding.