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The Oscars ceremony are set to start broadcasting solely on YouTube in 2029, representing the latest substantial shift in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars declared the decision on Wednesday, stating that it signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars until 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible live and for free on YouTube.

It's one more substantial upheaval in the entertainment world, which is dealing with studio sales and mergers, in addition to drastic slashes to movie budgets.

"Our Academy represents an international organization, and this collaboration will enable us to increase availability to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership possible - which will be advantageous for our film artists and the film community," said Academy leadership in a release.

Over decades, audience numbers of the ceremony have dropped, though there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from mobile devices and desktops.

In a related comment, the head of YouTube described the Oscars "a key vital pillars of culture" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of innovation and movie fans while staying true to the Oscars' celebrated history".

The broadcast network, which has aired the awards since 1976, stated that it was looking forward "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.

This shift comes as film industry giants confront complex corporate battles. Both options were viewed as problematic for an business that has seen drastic cuts over the last few years.

Similar to major studios, traditional TV channels have encountered challenges as the public has increasingly opted for digital platforms instead.

YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards clearly signals that dependence on streaming sites will carry on increasing.