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The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the newest substantial transformation in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on this week, confirming that it finalized a multi-year deal giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, scheduled for 15 March, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the event will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.

This is another major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to severe production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to broaden reach to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the cinematic world," remarked organization heads in a statement.

Over decades, ratings of the awards show have declined, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers watching from cell phones and laptops.

In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "a key essential cultural touchstones" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".

ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will continue to air.

The move follows film industry giants face challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered concerning for an industry that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.

In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the audience has chosen on-demand video instead.

YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will persist to grow.