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The Oscars ceremony will begin broadcasting solely on YouTube in the year 2029, representing the most recent substantial change in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, indicating that it finalized a extended contract giving the streaming service the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.

The awards show, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on the digital platform.

It's a further substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with drastic reductions in filming.

"The Academy is an global institution, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be positive for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a announcement.

For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from smartphones and desktops.

In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "one of our vital pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' storied heritage".

ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, said that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will still host.

This shift comes as large entertainment companies confront intricate takeover attempts. These potential deals were considered problematic for an industry that has witnessed significant downsizing over the past several years.

Like big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the public has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.

YouTube winning rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of streaming sites will persist expanding.