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The Oscars ceremony will begin airing only on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the most recent major transformation in Hollywood.

The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on this week, indicating that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars through 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has been televised for five decades on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the show will be available live and for free on YouTube.

It's another substantial upheaval in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, coupled with steep reductions in filming.

"Our Academy represents an worldwide body, and this alliance will enable us to broaden reach to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community," stated the Academy's executives in a release.

Over decades, ratings of the ceremony have fallen, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences streaming from cell phones and desktops.

In a related comment, YouTube's CEO referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and said that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a new generation of creativity and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' storied legacy".

ABC, which has televised the awards since 1976, commented that it was looking forward "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

This shift comes as large entertainment companies face complex corporate battles. These potential deals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has experienced drastic cuts over the recent period.

Like big production houses, traditional TV channels have faced issues as the public has chosen streaming services as an alternative.

The platform securing rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that dependence on digital platforms will continue to grow.