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How To Stream Oscars 2023: Free And Paid Ways To Watch Live

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This year’s Oscars ceremony takes place on Sunday, March 12, 2023 and is available to stream live on ABC. While some homes will be able to watch the entire event for free, or without paying anything extra, others will need to consider signing up to a live TV subscription.

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The 95th Oscars will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The main event is due to begin at 5:00 PM PDT and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Over the course of the night, winners will be chosen for 24 categories.

For those that want to watch all the action as it unfolds, Oscars 95 will be broadcast live on ABC. For those with access to ABC through their live TV plan, or able to tune in to their local OTA ABC station, there’s nothing else to do, other than tune in on time.

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If in need of a live TV plan, below is a rundown of the cheapest plans from live TV streaming services that currently offer access to ABC.

Sling TV*$45*
Vidgo$64.95
YouTube TV$64.99
Hulu Live TV*$69.99
fuboTV$74.99
DirecTV Stream$74.99
*Select locations

In addition to watching via a live TV service’s own app or website, it is also possible to watch via the ABC app or the ABC website by authenticating with TV Everywhere. This feature is currently available with all of the live TV streaming services listed above.

It should be noted that both Hulu Live TV and Sling TV currently don’t offer access to ABC in all locations.

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Oscars 95: FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions related to streaming the Oscars live.

Can you watch the Oscars for free?

Technically, yes. As the Oscars are being shown live on ABC, anyone with access to their local ABC channel will be able to watch the full ceremony. ABC is available for free as an over-the-air channel to those who have an antenna and are within reach of their local ABC broadcast.

It is also possible to watch the Oscars for free by taking advantage of a live TV free trial. Not every live TV streaming service currently offers a free trial, but some of the most popular ones still do. That said, the length of time you can watch for free is anything but standardized and varies greatly from service to service.

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Below are the live TV streaming services that currently offer a free trial.

Live TV serviceFree trial
DirecTV Stream5 days
fuboTV7 days
Sling TV (depends on device)3 days
YouTube TV14 days

If opting to go the free trial route, it is important to be aware of how long the free trial lasts and to make sure to cancel the subscription before the final day to avoid automatically being charged the monthly subscription fee.

Cheapest paid way to watch the Oscars

For those looking for the very cheapest paid way to watch the Oscars on Sunday night, that’s $45 per month through Sling TV. While Sling offers more than one live TV plan, Sling Blue is the only one that includes ABC. However, it should be noted that Sling does not offer ABC in all areas, so it is important to check availability before signing up.

Can you watch the Oscars on Hulu?

Yes and no. Hulu subscribers are not able to watch the Oscars 2023 live, unless they are signed up to Hulu Live TV, but the whole event will be available to stream with basic Hulu the following day. So for those that are willing to wait until March 13, they can watch the full event on Hulu at no additional cost.

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John Finn

By John Finn

John started Streaming Better to help consumers navigate the live TV streaming and subscription service landscape. John has been editing and writing about technology and streaming for online publications since 2014, and believes the best streaming approach is to rotate between services as needed.

John's preferred live TV streaming service right now is YouTube TV although he does tend to switch live TV services multiple times each year to keep up to date with their changes. Outside of live TV, John also actively streams HBO Max (for the shows), Peacock (for Premier League), and Paramount Plus (for Champion's League). However, John is also currently subscribed to Apple TV+, Discovery+, Hulu, Starz, Showtime, and Shudder.

Contact John via email at john@streamingbetter.com or say hi on Twitter

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