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The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the newest substantial shift in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, stating that it finalized a multi-year deal awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for March 15th, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the event will be available in real-time without charge on YouTube.

It's a further significant shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, coupled with severe production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this collaboration will enable us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be positive for our membership and the cinematic world," stated organization heads in a release.

For many years, viewership of the awards show have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from smartphones and computers.

In a related comment, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "among our fundamental pillars of culture" and said that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".

ABC, which has televised the ceremony since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will still host.

The move comes as large entertainment companies deal with challenging merger discussions. Both options were viewed as concerning for an sector that has seen significant downsizing over the recent period.

In common with major studios, traditional TV channels have struggled as the viewers has chosen digital platforms instead.

The platform securing the license to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on streaming sites will continue expanding.