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The Oscars ceremony will commence streaming exclusively on the global video platform in the year 2029, signaling the latest substantial shift in the film industry.

The organization behind the Oscars revealed the news on Wednesday, indicating that it finalized a extended contract giving YouTube the sole worldwide broadcasting rights to the Oscars through 2033.

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

It's another major shakeup in Hollywood, which is navigating company buyouts and fusions, in addition to drastic production cuts.

"Our Academy represents an global institution, and this partnership will permit us to expand access to the activities of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience imaginable - which will be beneficial for our film artists and the cinematic world," said the Academy's executives in a announcement.

For many years, ratings of the televised event have dropped, though there was a minor increase in 2025, with a notable portion of youthful audiences tuning in from smartphones and desktops.

In a separate statement, the head of YouTube referred to the Oscars "a key essential pillars of culture" and noted that working with the Academy would "motivate a fresh wave of artistic expression and cinema enthusiasts while staying true to the Oscars' illustrious legacy".

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

This shift comes as large entertainment companies deal with complex corporate battles. Such proposals were seen as unfavourable for an industry that has experienced significant downsizing over the past several years.

In common with major studios, cable networks have encountered challenges as the viewers has chosen streaming services as an alternative.

YouTube winning rights to the Oscars strongly indicates that the dominance of streaming sites will persist increasing.