🔗 Share this article The Oscars to Depart Broadcast TV and Stream on YouTube Beginning in 2029. The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the latest substantial shift in Hollywood. The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, indicating that it entered into a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033. The awards show, scheduled for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available in real-time without charge on the digital platform. This is a further substantial shakeup in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, in addition to severe slashes to movie budgets. "Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a statement. Over decades, audience numbers of the televised event have declined, though there was a minor increase in recent years, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences tuning in from mobile devices and laptops. In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural institutions" and noted that working with the Academy would "motivate a younger cohort of innovation and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious history". ABC, which has aired the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host. This shift comes as large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were viewed as unfavourable for an business that has experienced severe reductions over the last few years. Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has chosen digital platforms as an alternative. The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that dependence on online services will carry on increasing.