The Oscars Will Leave ABC and Stream on YouTube Starting in 2029.

The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, representing the newest significant transformation in the film industry.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declared the decision on Wednesday, indicating that it signed a extended contract awarding YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars up to 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has aired for five decades on the traditional network. Commencing in 2029, the show will be accessible as a free live stream on the digital platform.

This is one more major restructuring in the entertainment world, which is grappling with company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic reductions in filming.

"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to expand access to the mission of the Academy to the biggest global viewership attainable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," said the Academy's executives in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, although there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of Gen Z and millennial watchers tuning in from cell phones and computers.

In a corresponding announcement, the video platform's chief executive called the Oscars "one of our vital cultural touchstones" and added that partnering with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of innovation and cinema enthusiasts while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated heritage".

ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, stated that it was eagerly anticipating "to hosting the event three more times" it will still host.

This shift follows major studios deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has seen severe reductions over the past several years.

Similar to big production houses, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has increasingly opted for on-demand video instead.

YouTube obtaining the license to the Oscars clearly signals that dependence on digital platforms will continue expanding.