đź”— Share this article The Academy Awards to Depart ABC and Broadcast Live on YouTube Beginning in the Year 2029. The Academy Awards will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the most recent substantial change in the film industry. The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on this week, stating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033. The awards show, set for 15 March, has been broadcast for a half a century on ABC. Starting in 2029, the show will be viewable in real-time without charge on the digital platform. It's another substantial restructuring in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, coupled with severe reductions in filming. "Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this partnership will enable us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," stated organization heads in a release. Over decades, viewership of the televised event have fallen, although there was a slight uptick in recent years, with a significant number of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and desktops. In a related comment, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied legacy". The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host. The move coincides with film industry giants deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were considered problematic for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the last few years. Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has chosen digital platforms instead. The platform securing rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that the dominance of digital platforms will carry on expanding.