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The Oscars ceremony will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, signaling the latest significant transformation in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that it signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.

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

It's a further significant shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, along with steep production cuts.

"The Academy is an global institution, and this collaboration will enable us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the cinematic world," said organization heads in a statement.

For many years, ratings of the ceremony have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and laptops.

In a corresponding announcement, YouTube's CEO described the Oscars "one of our fundamental cultural touchstones" and said that working with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of creativity and film lovers while remaining faithful to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".

The broadcast network, which has televised the awards since the mid-1970s, said that it was excited "to the next three telecasts" it will retain rights for.

The move coincides with major studios face complex corporate battles. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has seen severe reductions over the recent period.

Similar to big production houses, traditional TV channels have struggled as the audience has shifted towards on-demand video as an alternative.

The platform securing rights to the Academy Awards strongly indicates that reliance on streaming sites will carry on to grow.