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

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it finalized a long-term agreement granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for 50 years on ABC. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.

It's one more substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to steep reductions in filming.

"The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will enable us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the movie industry," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.

For many years, audience numbers of the televised event have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from cell phones and laptops.

In a separate statement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and said that partnering with the Academy would "spark a fresh wave of artistic expression and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".

ABC, which has televised the ceremony since the mid-1970s, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.

This decision comes as film industry giants confront challenging merger discussions. Both options were considered concerning for an business that has seen severe reductions over the past several years.

Similar to major studios, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has shifted towards digital platforms instead.

YouTube winning broadcasting rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on online services will continue to grow.