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The Academy Awards will commence airing only on YouTube in the year 2029, signaling the most recent significant transformation in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, confirming that it entered into a multi-year deal granting the streaming service the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.

The Oscars, set for March 15th, has been broadcast for a half a century on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the event will be viewable live and for free on YouTube.

This is a further major upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, coupled with steep reductions in filming.

"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will permit us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd imaginable - which will be beneficial for our membership and the film community," said the Academy's executives in a statement.

For many years, audience numbers of the ceremony have declined, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from cell phones and desktops.

In a separate statement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "among our vital cultural institutions" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".

ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since the mid-1970s, said that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.

The move comes as major studios deal with complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as problematic for an sector that has witnessed drastic cuts over the last few years.

In common with big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.

YouTube obtaining broadcasting rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on streaming sites will continue to grow.