(ABC/Andrew Eccles)
Tonight is the 2016 Oscars with Chris Rock hosting the show for his second time. The biggest stars in Hollywood are turning up for the big event and we can’t wait to see who wins Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture. Tonight’s annual show runs from 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT to 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT, so be sure to tune in to ABC.
Can’t get to a television? Below are the available options for streaming the ABC Oscars awards show broadcast online or with an app on various devices — and instructions for how to access the stream.
If You Have Access to a Cable or Satellite Subscription [Select Markets Only]
On the Web:
You can stream the show on the ABC website here at abc.go.com/watch-live. You’ll be prompted to select a cable or satellite TV provider and enter your account information.
The live stream is only available in these markets: Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, and San Francisco.
With an App:
You can also stream the Oscars live using the WATCH ABC app. Again, you will need access to a cable or satellite provider account and will be prompted to enter your account info. The live broadcast is only available in these markets: Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco.
The WATCH ABC app is available for Apple (iOS), Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Xbox 360 and Fire Tablet.
If You Don’t Have Access to a Cable or Satellite Subscription [Select Markets Only]
On the Web:
Viewers in certain United States TV markets can watch the Oscars through Sling TV, an online streaming service that provides access to select channels for a monthly fee. Sling’s Broadcast Extra package, which includes ABC, is available in the Chicago, Fresno-Visalia, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco TV markets.
The service’s Best of Live TV package costs $20 a month. The Broadcast Extra package, which you can add after you’ve created your account, costs an extra $5. But if you’re in one of the TV markets listed above and want to watch the Oscars for free, you can do so with Sling’s free 7-day trial.
Here’s how to sign up:
1. Click here to create a Sling account.
2. Select the Best of Live TV package.
3. Enter your billing information and create an account. Again: You will not be charged until after you’ve completed the free 7-day trial.
4. Once you’ve created your account, click on the icon next to the “sign out” button in the top-right corner of your screen. Once you’ve clicked on the icon, click the blue “change subscription” link.
5. Click on “Best of Live TV Extras,” then scroll down to the Broadcast Extra add-on and click “add.”
6. Download the Sling app on your computer, and begin watching the show.
With an App:
If you sign up for the free Sling trial and are in the Chicago, Fresno-Visalia, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham or San Francisco TV market, you can watch the Oscars Sling app, which you can download for free in the App store or the Google Play store. There’s also a Sling app for Roku, Chromecast, Nexus player, ZTE and XBox One. Click here for a full list of compatible devices.
The service’s Best of Live TV package costs $20 a month, and the Broadcast Extra add-on costs an additional $5 per month. But if you’re looking for a way to watch the Oscars for free, you can do so with Sling’s free 7-day trial. Click here to sign up for Sling TV. . You’ll need to enter your credit card information when signing up, but if you cancel your subscription before the trial period ends, you will not be charged.
Here’s how to sign up:
1. Click here to create a Sling account.
2. Select the Best of Live TV package.
3. Enter your billing information and create an account. Again: You will not be charged until after you’ve completed the free 7-day trial.
4. Once you’ve created your account, click on the icon next to the “sign out” button in the top-right corner of your screen. Once you’ve clicked on the icon, click the blue “change subscription” link.
5. Click on “Best of Live TV Extras,” then scroll down to the Broadcast Extra add-on and click “add.”
6. Download the Sling app in the App store or the Google Play store.
If You Live in a Market Where a Stream Is Not Available
If the options outlined above are not available to you, you unfortunately may not be able to watch the ABC broadcast of the Oscars online or through an app. However, you can follow along with The Oscars Backstage, available here at Oscar.go.com/the-oscars-backstage.
This experience, which can be enjoyed by itself or as a second-screen companion to the Oscars broadcast, streams footage from an array of backstage cameras. According to the Oscars website, it “allows fans to choose from four channels that will pull from more than 20 live cameras strategically placed on the red carpet and backstage at the Dolby Theatre, providing fans with insider views into the most memorable moments of the night. Pre-show channels include: Director’s Cut, Arrivals, Fashion and Red Carpet. During the show, the channels are Director’s Cut (including the popular Thank You cam), Audience, Backstage and Press Rooms.”
The Director’s Cut will also be available on ABCNews.com, Yahoo and the ABC Facebook page. Oscar.com and the Facebook page will also show video highlights from the awards show shortly after they air. According to this press release, “Embeddable video clips of the most memorable moments of the awards show – including all musical performances – will be posted almost immediately after they air to Oscar.com/Video, with a selection of those also being shared on the Facebook pages.”