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The Academy Awards are set to start airing only on the global video platform in 2029, signaling the most recent major change in the film industry.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the news on Wednesday, confirming that it signed a multi-year deal giving YouTube the unique international license to the Oscars through 2033.

The Oscars, set for 15 March, has aired for 50 years on the traditional network. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will be accessible in real-time without charge on YouTube.

This is one more major upheaval in the entertainment world, which is navigating studio sales and mergers, coupled with steep slashes to movie budgets.

"The Academy is an international organization, and this collaboration will permit us to broaden reach to the activities of the Academy to the most extensive international crowd attainable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the film community," said organization heads in a release.

Over decades, audience numbers of the awards show have dropped, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a notable portion of younger viewers streaming from cell phones and desktops.

In a corresponding announcement, the head of YouTube called the Oscars "one of our fundamental pillars of culture" and added that working with the Academy would "inspire a younger cohort of creativity and movie fans while adhering to the Oscars' celebrated legacy".

ABC, 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 coincides with major studios face intricate takeover attempts. Such proposals were viewed as concerning for an sector that has seen drastic cuts over the past several years.

Similar to major studios, cable networks have faced issues as the viewers has chosen streaming services instead.

YouTube obtaining rights to the Academy Awards further suggests that the dominance of streaming sites will continue increasing.