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The Oscars ceremony will commence broadcasting solely on the global video platform in 2029, marking the newest substantial change in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.

The awards show, set for 15 March, has been broadcast for 50 years on the traditional network. Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible in real-time without charge on YouTube.

It's a further significant shakeup in the entertainment world, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, along with steep production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be advantageous for our membership and the film community," said organization heads in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, although there was a minor increase in 2025, with a considerable amount of youthful audiences streaming from mobile devices and computers.

In a separate statement, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "among our fundamental cultural institutions" and added that teaming up with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' storied legacy".

ABC, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

This decision comes as large entertainment companies face intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were seen as unfavourable for an business that has seen severe reductions over the last few years.

Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has increasingly opted for streaming services instead.

The platform securing the license to the Oscars clearly signals that dependence on digital platforms will carry on to grow.