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

The Oscars ceremony are set to start streaming exclusively on YouTube in the year 2029, marking the most recent substantial transformation in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on this week, confirming that it entered into a extended contract awarding the streaming service the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars until 2033.

The awards show, scheduled for March 15th, has been televised for five decades on ABC. Commencing in 2029, the show will be available as a free live stream on the digital platform.

This is another substantial upheaval 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 alliance will enable us to increase availability to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the movie industry," said organization heads in a announcement.

Over decades, ratings of the awards show have dropped, even if there was a small rise in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers streaming from smartphones and laptops.

In a related comment, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "among our essential cultural institutions" and noted that teaming up with the Academy would "spark a younger cohort of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while remaining faithful to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".

The broadcast network, which has streamed the ceremony since 1976, stated that it was excited "to the upcoming broadcasts" it will continue to air.

This shift comes as large entertainment companies deal with intricate takeover attempts. Both options were considered unfavourable for an business that has witnessed drastic cuts over the past several years.

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

YouTube obtaining rights to the Oscars clearly signals that the dominance of online services will continue expanding.