The 93rd annual Academy Awards are just around the corner. And by that I mean, they air this Sunday on ABC. But if you’re anything like me—someone with a dozen streaming service logins and no cable—it can be a little confusing to know how to watch. Luckily, I did some digging and found all of the ways you can enjoy the Oscars from home this year. With or without cable or antenna TV.
It’s the biggest day of the year for movie lovers, so I want to make sure we all know how to tune in to see who wins!
What time are the Oscars?
The Academy Awards air this Sunday, April 25 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT in the United States. If you’re someone who likes the pre-show, that starts a little earlier, at 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT.
How can you watch live?
If you have cable, you can tune into ABC to watch the Oscars live at the times above. You can also watch on ABC’s website and the ABC app using your provider information. If you don’t have cable, but do have an antenna (which allows you to pick up local broadcasts without an additional charge), check your local listings here to see what channel ABC airs on in your location.
If you don’t have cable, worry not! There are still ways to tune in. First, check out Locast, which streams local broadcasters in select US cities for free. If that doesn’t work, you can try subscribing to a live TV streaming service. This will allow you to watch local stations like ABC, if it’s available in your location. Hulu + Live TV is one option, as is YouTube TV. Those both cost $64.99/month, but free weeklong trials are available if it’s your first time signing up. AT&T TV is another option. That one goes for $69.99/month.
Roku users can also stream the Oscars on ABC News Live via The Roku Channel.
It’s bound to be an interesting and unusual Oscars ceremony this year. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the film industry in a major way in 2020. Lots of awards-ready films were bumped to 2021 and things feel especially unpredictable. There are only a few frontrunners in some of the major categories, a big shake-up from other years, when the awards were a little easier to predict.
That means, you really don’t want to miss the Academy Awards this year. Hopefully the above information is helpful in terms of tuning in. And, as you prepare for the Oscars this Sunday, be sure to catch up on all of our Nerdist Oscars Week features!