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The Oscars ceremony will begin broadcasting solely on the global video platform in the year 2029, representing the newest major change in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, stating that it finalized a extended contract granting YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.

The Oscars, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable as a free live stream on the digital platform.

This is one more significant restructuring in the entertainment world, which is dealing with corporate acquisitions and consolidations, in addition to steep production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this alliance will allow us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a release.

Throughout a long period, viewership of the awards show have declined, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and laptops.

In a related comment, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a fresh wave of creativity and movie fans while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied heritage".

The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.

The move follows major studios face intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were viewed as concerning for an sector that has seen severe reductions over the last few years.

Like big production houses, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for streaming services as an alternative.

YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that dependence on streaming sites will continue increasing.