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The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, marking the latest substantial transformation in Hollywood.

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

The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has been broadcast for five decades on ABC. Starting in 2029, the event will be available live and for free on YouTube.

It's a further substantial restructuring in the entertainment world, which is grappling with studio sales and mergers, along with severe reductions in filming.

"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this collaboration will enable us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership imaginable - which will be positive for our film artists and the film community," remarked Academy leadership in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, even if there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of youthful audiences watching from cell phones and computers.

In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO called the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural touchstones" and added that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of innovation and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' storied legacy".

ABC, which has aired the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to hosting the event three more times" it will retain rights for.

The move coincides with film industry giants deal with complex corporate battles. Both options were seen as unfavourable for an sector that has witnessed drastic cuts over the recent period.

In common with big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the viewers has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.

YouTube winning rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that reliance on streaming sites will continue increasing.