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The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, signaling the latest significant change in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it entered into a extended contract granting the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.

The awards show, set for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be viewable live and for free on the digital platform.

This is another significant upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, along with steep production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this alliance will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be positive for our film artists and the film community," remarked the Academy's executives in a statement.

Throughout a long period, audience numbers of the awards show have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a considerable amount of Gen Z and millennial watchers watching from mobile devices and laptops.

In a related comment, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key fundamental cultural touchstones" and said that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' illustrious heritage".

The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, said that it was eagerly anticipating "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

This shift follows film industry giants deal with complex corporate battles. Both options were considered problematic for an sector that has experienced significant downsizing over the last few years.

Similar to big production houses, cable networks have struggled as the viewers has increasingly opted for streaming services as an alternative.

The platform securing the license to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on digital platforms will persist increasing.