Are you ready for the biggest prize in cinema, movie lovers? We know we are. The 95th Academy Awards, or the Oscars for short, is coming our way on March 12. The nominations are in, with some big names on the list, so we know it will be one hell of an event.
And while actors, directors, cinematographers, writers, and celebrities will gather at The Dolby Theater for the occasion, the rest of us will be watching from home. US broadcasting network ABC will televise the event, which will also be available on the ABC website and app for free.
But unfortunately for cord-cutters in the US, ABC requires a cable subscription. As for international streamers, the service is geo-blocked outside the country. The solution is simple, though. If you want to see who will take home the golden statuette, get a premium VPN.
The Road to the Oscars – Quick Streaming Guide
Time needed: 3 minutes
Watch the 95th Oscars live and without cable from anywhere:
- Get a premium VPN service.
According to our tests, only elite VPNs give you reliable streaming access. ExpressVPN is our number 1 choice, while BulletVPN is a top alternative.
- Install the VPN app.
VPN apps are compatible with iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and more. You can even set up a VPN on your router to watch the Oscars on your Smart TV.
- Launch your VPN app.
Open the app and enter your credentials to sign in.
- Connect to the appropriate VPN server.
Choose a US server for ABC, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, or DirecTV STREAM. For international Oscar broadcasters, select a server from the same location as your channel.
- Go to your channel’s website or app.
Once you’re connected, geo-error messages will disappear once and for all.
- Watch The 95th Academy Awards online.
Lights, camera, action. Follow the Oscars from the red carpet to awards from anywhere.
Everything you Need to Watch the Oscars
Discover all there is to know about the 2023 Oscars, including nominees, broadcasters, and bypassing geo-restrictions with a VPN.
Tools to Stream the Academy Awards from Anywhere
Make sure you have the following to watch the Oscars:
- A premium VPN account.
- A subscription to an Oscar broadcaster.
- A compatible device.
ABC the Exclusive Home for the Oscars
The Acadamy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are the highest international recognition of excellence in cinema. So when it comes to film awards, it doesn’t get bigger than this. ABC has held exclusive broadcasting rights for the Oscars since 1976. Its current contract with the Academy runs until 2028.
The event will air on Sunday, March 12, starting with the red carpet coverage, followed by the awards ceremony. Those who live abroad might have to stay up past midnight or wake up at dawn to catch the Oscars. But since this is the biggest movie event of the year, it’s all worth it.
Unfortunately, time difference isn’t the only inconvenience. ABC’s online library and live content are geo-blocked outside the US due to broadcasting rights. As a result, you won’t be able to stream the Oscars if you are abroad.
The ABC website and app determine your location through your IP address, which has a designated numerical tag depending on the country you’re in. Once ABC sees that you are outside its broadcasting zone, it will block its video content. Therefore, you’ll need a VPN to trick ABC into thinking that you are inside the United States.
But even with or without a virtual private network, cord-cutters cannot access the service. ABC requires that you sign in with a participating TV provider, meaning you must have a cable/satellite subscription.
The Oscars for Cord-cutters
Limiting the Oscars to viewers with an ABC cable subscription rules out millions of fans in the US and abroad. It means that anyone without a US TV contract cannot watch the 95th Acadamy Awards online.
Cutting the cord is a fast-growing trend that is taking the world by storm. More and more TV lovers are opting for affordable standalone streaming platforms to replace contract-abiding and expensive cable subscriptions. Since ABC hold exclusive rights to air the Oscars in the US, you’ll need a live TV streaming service that features ABC in its lineup.
The most popular services are AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV, and Hulu with Live TV. Now, keep in mind that these services are also geo-restricted outside the USA. But at least you won’t need a cable provider to access them. Therefore, if you live abroad, a VPN can help you.
YouTube TV
The cheapest live TV streaming service with ABC access is YouTube TV. For $64.99 a month, you’ll get the Oscars broadcaster, in addition to 70 more channels. I’m talking about ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, AMC, CNBC, and more. And if you’re a sports fan, you’ll enjoy ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and MLB Network.
YouTube TV offers even more beneficial features, including:
- Unlimited DVR storage space
- Stream your library wherever you go
- Personal library space for each account
- Recordings kept for nine months
- No contracts: Cancel anytime
First-time subscribers get a $10 discount on their first 3 months. Then, it’s $64.99/month thereafter.
Hulu With Live TV
Hulu is a Disney-owned streaming platform that offers a lot of entertaining movies and shows. It has an extensive library of the most entertaining Original series, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, Ramy, and Castle Rock. All this is available for $5.99/month.
But you’ll have to pay much more for the Live TV service, which features ABC, CBS, Fox, CNBC, NBC, TLC, and a lot more. Sports enthusiasts also get FS1, FS2, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC Golf, and NBCSN. Hulu + Live TV costs $69.99 per month, with HBO and Showtime add-ons also available for a little extra.
DirecTV STREAM
DirecTV Stream‘s basic package costs $69.99/month and features ABC in its lineup. For more entertaining options like HBO access, you’ll have to cough up $89.99, which gives you access to shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld, Succession, and Chernobyl.
You’ll also enjoy 45+ channels, including The CW, Comedy Central, FX, MTV, and CBS. And if you’re into sports, DirecTV STREAM offers NBCSN, ESPN, Fox Sports, and TBS. There’s also a free trial for seven days, which allows you to watch the Oscars and test the platform before you commit to it.
International Broadcasters
ABC may be the home of the Oscars in the US, but overseas, there are other broadcasters perfect for cord-cutters. And just like the US-restricted streaming platforms, these services are only available inside their respective regions. Therefore, you’ll need a VPN to unblock them if you’re abroad.
The best international broadcasters for the Oscars are:
- Now TV: You can watch the Oscars through this standalone UK streaming service by subscribing to the Sky Cinema Pass. It costs £11.99 (around $16) a month and comes with a seven-day free trial period.
- OSN Play: OSN is your go-to destination for movies, series, and entertainment in the Middle East. The network will bring you the Oscars live on TV and via streaming as well. The basic plan costs $18/month.
- 7Plus: You can catch the Oscars for free by subscribing to the famous Australian streaming service 7Plus. All you need is a premium VPN because the platform is only available in the land down under.
Other online platforms covering the Oscars are Canal+ (France), DStv (South Africa), and Hotstar (India).
How VPNs Can Bypass Oscars Geo-blocks
Virtual private networks can help you bypass online restrictions and watch the 2023 Oscars from anywhere in the world. These tools rechannel your Internet traffic through one of their own servers, which are located all over the world. They allow you to choose the server location of your choice and send your connection through it.
Then, your VPN will change your IP address so that it matches your new whereabouts. As a result, streaming platforms and other websites, like banking services, will think that you are inside their coverage area. So if you want to watch the Oscars on YouTube TV or other US-based platforms, you just need to connect to an American VPN server.
But please note that your paid VPN subscription does not replace the registration fees of streaming services. So you have to pay for both the VPN and YouTube TV.
Elite virtual private networks also encrypt your traffic with the military-grade AES-256. That way, your Internet service provider cannot monitor your online activities. Furthermore, they keep zero records of sensitive information like IP addresses, browsing history, and web destinations. In other words, you’ll get total anonymity, and no one can trace anything back to you.
Best VPNs for the 2023 Oscars
To enjoy the best viewing experience, your VPN must provide three essential attributes: Efficiency, accessibility, and speed. You need a provider that can successfully unblock streaming services. And the last thing you want is buffering issues when you’re watching the Oscars or other live events in HD.
Premium VPNs offer all those features and much more. And you can save up a lot of money by committing to their long-term plans. Meanwhile, free providers will get you nowhere, and you’ll regret wasting your time on them. They also could infect your device with malware and sell your private data to third parties.
So choose one of the below providers to watch the Oscars without hassle. Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN because it offers fast servers in 94 countries, top-class privacy features, and excellent unblocking capabilities. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re disappointed with the service.
ExpressVPN isn’t the only reliable provider, of course. Here is our list of the best VPNs for the Oscars.
- 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Apps For All Your Devices
- 24/7 Live Support
And the Oscar Nominees Are…
The upcoming Oscars feature a lot of excellent and entertaining movies in all genres. Here are the biggest categories and their respective nominees (check out all the nominees here):
- Austin Butler (Elvis)
- Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Brendan Fraser (The Whale)
- Paul Mescal (Aftersun)
- Bill Nighy (Living)
- Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)
- Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans)
- Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
- Cate Blanchett (Tár)
- Ana de Armas (Blonde)
- Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie)
- Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans)
- Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
- Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
- Hong Chau (The Whale)
- Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
- Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
- Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
- Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)
- Todd Field (Tár)
- Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness)
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- Avatar: The Way of Water
- The Banshees of Inisherin
- Elvis
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- The Fabelmans
- Tár
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Triangle of Sadness
- Women Talking
95th Oscars – FAQs
Want to know more about the 95th Academy Awards ceremony? Here are the most frequent questions our readers asked:
Where can I watch the 2023 Oscars?
ABC will broadcast the 95th Academy Awards ceremony. You can stream it on the ABC website and app, or on internet TV services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV STREAM. International broadcasters include 7plus, Now TV, DStv, and OSN.
Who is hosting the 2023 Oscars?
Jimmy Kimmel will host the 95th Academy Awards ceremony for the third time after taking the honors in 2017 and 2018.
When will the Oscars take place?
The 2023 Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 12.
Which movies are nominated for Best Picture?
This year, 10 films will compete for the Best Picture award: All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness, and Women Talking.
Can I watch the 2023 Oscars with a free VPN?
Free VPNs are inconsistent in unblocking streaming platforms. They also expose and sell your sensitive data. We only recommend premium VPNs because they are reliable, fast, and respect your privacy. Simply connect to a server from the same location as your favorite channel and stream the 2023 Oscars live from anywhere.
How to Stream the Oscars Live Online – Final Thoughts
As with every year, the Academy Awards ceremony brings together the creme de la creme of the film industry. This year’s Oscars are no different, with so many excellent nominees competing for the prestigious award.
Therefore, if you don’t want to miss the event, hurry up, and get a VPN because the 2023 Oscars are just two days away. And make sure you subscribe to a premium provider to ensure the best viewing experience.
