How to watch the 2019 Oscars online without cable or even a TV
Got plans Sunday night? We'll give you some: The 2019 Oscars are on. (That heads up was just for casual watchers, guys — we know film buffs have had this date etched in their brain since April.)
The 2019 Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 8 p.m. EST to 11 p.m. EST and will go host-less for the second time in ceremony history after Kevin Hart officially stepped down.
SEE ALSO: Where to watch all of the 2019 Oscar-nominated films
No host? No problem. The Oscars are always an entertaining shit show, especially when you watch with friends and people start to lose it when their favorite movie gets robbed. But this year is a must-see for other reasons. Diversity barriers are being broken all around, with the biggest involving representation milestones for people of color, non-black POC, and the LGBTQ+ community. Thanks to Black Panther, it's also the first time a superhero movie has been nominated for Best Picture.
Even the stage is making statements like never before.
I think we can all agree that the world is filled with TOO MANY straight lines & square thinking. For the #Oscars this year I have designed a world based on the idea of inclusion & warm welcoming shapes that stretch out & envelope not only the audience but everyone watching. pic.twitter.com/uStpUiDnFX
— David Korins (@DavidKorins) February 18, 2019
A Star Is Born co-stars and nominees Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper will probably be sitting together and oh yeah, and Queen is performing. NO BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING.
If you're itching to watch the Oscars but only have a laptop, then a streaming service is going to be your best friend. If you really want to be cheap sly, sign up for the free trial then cancel it before you get charged. Of course, we'd recommending sticking with the streaming service of your choice and taking full advantage of all the programming on offer.
Here's how to watch the Oscars without cable (and find a full list of nominations here):
Hulu with Live TV — $39.99/month after seven-day free trial
Image: 20th century fox
Consider this to be ol' reliable. Hulu's live TV option is the easiest way to watch the Oscars if you're already paying for regular Hulu. At $39.99 per month, it's cheaper to get ABC here than it is with most competitors. (Budget-friendly Sling TV recently got rid of its broadcast add-on.) You'll get over 60 channels in total including ABC, CBS, Cartoon Network, FX, and TLC.
If needing ABC is a one-time emergency, you can sign up for a one-week free trial. When that ends you'll be charged $39.99 per month — which isn't bad, considering you're getting Hulu originals plus live TV, plus recent reruns of shows like The Bachelor and Saturday Night Live.
Watch the Oscars on Hulu with Live TV
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YouTube TV — $40/month after free five-day trial
Image: Warner Bros. Pictures
Not feeling Hulu? Film junkies can also keep tabs on the big night with YouTube's live TV subscription. One of the only other streaming services to offer ABC, YouTube TV has over 60 channels including ABC, Freeform, National Geographic, and a ton of sports channels.
Again, you can sign up for a five-day free trial if watching live online is just a one-time need. After your five-day trial ends, you'll be charged $40/month.
Watch the Oscars on YouTube TV
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Playstation Vue — $44.95/month after five-day free trial
Image: marvel studios
For dual film and gaming fans, PlayStation Vue could be clutch. Sony's live TV subscription offers four packages, with ABC available in the lowest tier. (ABC live streaming isn't available everywhere, so enter your zip code first to be sure.) Vue's Access plan offers 49 channels including ABC, AMC, The Food Network, and HGTV.
To watch the Oscars, you can sign up for a five-day free trial and cancel it before it ends. After that, you'll have to pay $44.99 per month.
Watch the Oscars on Playstation Vue
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ABC Live Stream — Free with TV provider login
Image: ANAPURNA Pictures
Or you could just watch the Oscars on ABC's official site, duh. ABC Go isn't a streaming service with a subscription — instead, as long as you have a login from a TV provider like Comcast or Optimum, you can watch live for free. (Obviously if you're reading this post, you probably don't have a subscription to a TV provider — but that doesn't mean someone you know won't give you their password. Thanks mom!) If you can figure out a way to log in here, it's way easier than having to remember to cancel a free trial.
You can also tune in at 1 p.m. to see interviews with celebrities and other fun extras as part of the Oscars countdown or watch a live stream of the red carpet on Twitter.
Watch the Oscars on ABC
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