Grab your popcorn and get ready for a glitzy night filled with stars because the 2022 Oscars are right around the corner.
The 94th Academy Awards 2022, also known as the Oscars, will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. We’ll see Hollywood’s biggest names strutting into your screen Live on Sunday, March 27th at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT on ABC.
For all of you lucky folks watching the Oscars from the US, you have your options. The main one, of course, is to just stream the Oscars live via ABC’s website or simply tune into its TV channel.
However, if you’ve cut the cord or you’re from abroad, you might have trouble accessing the broadcast because of geo-blocking. You are only able to watch Oscars online live with US IP address.
Well, thank your lucky stars because regardless of where you are in the world, there’s an easy solution to watch the Oscars live: a virtual private network (VPN). And, in this guide, we’ll show you how a VPN can solve your Oscars headache.
How to watch Oscars live stream with a VPN
- Get a VPN. We recommend NordVPN with 68% discount.
- Install the VPN and connect it to a server in the US.
- Choose a streaming service that lets you watch ABC.
- Get your popcorn ready for the biggest show in the film industry!
Watch the Oscars with NordVPN
And below, you can see some of the most important info regarding the Oscars:
How can a VPN help you watch the Oscars online?
The exclusive rights to broadcast the Oscars belong to ABC (American broadcasting Company) since 1976. Knowing that ABC is only available to those who are based in the US and its territories, viewers from such locations as Europe, Asia, and others are not going to have access to the show.
If you try to stream outside the US, you’re going to get an error stating that the video is not available in your area. The good news is that you can bypass these limitations with the help of a VPN service. You can check out the top quality VPNs in our list.
You also need to choose a streaming service that has the rights to broadcast the Oscars, such as Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV and FuboTV. A tip and trick I can give you is that you can get a free trial of any of these services before the Oscars and cancel them after.
Don’t forget that before starting the stream, you have to connect to a US server. This way, a VPN assigns you an IP address from that location, and voilà – no more geo-restrictions.
Best VPN to watch the Oscars
To help you race against time, I chose the best VPN provider for watching the Oscars. Let’s dive in and see what makes this VPN the best out of all competitors:
NordVPN – best VPN solution for streaming the Oscars
Visit NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the leaders of the VPN market for many reasons, with streaming being one of them. With this VPN, you can unblock a bunch of streaming services, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and AT&T TV (Direct TV).
It’s also worth mentioning the excellent connection stability that lets you enjoy the show without buffering, so you can be sure of a non-irritating experience. Since NordVPN offers 5500 servers in 59 countries, you’ll have lots of locations to choose from globally.
Despite great streaming capabilities, you’ll be protected from prying eyes with military-grade encryption, a reliable kill switch, an ad blocker, and more. But if you only want to use a VPN for streaming, you can do that with the split tunneling feature.
The prices of this VPN start from $3.29/month and on top of that, you can make use of our NordVPN coupons to get the best deal possible. And don’t worry, if the product doesn’t meet your expectations, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
These are only a few of NordVPN’s highlights that I mentioned. If you want to find out more about this provider, check out our in-depth NordVPN review.
Streaming services that will show the Oscars online
In the US, the Oscars will air on cable on ABC. Plus, you can also watch the Oscars on ABC.com or the ABC app. But, the live streaming is only available for specific cities and only if you have already signed up and have your cable or satellite credentials.
Besides ABC, you can also stream it on the following services:
Watch the Oscars with NordVPN
However, if you can’t access any of the services mentioned above from your country, your best bet is to download a VPN.
Here’s a breakdown of the platforms that offer the 2022 Oscars and the best VPNs that will help to unblock them:
- AT&T TV. A streaming channel for those in the US, it has geographical restrictions in place. NordVPN will help you to bypass them.
- Hulu + Live TV includes feeds of the 5 major US broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, Fox, and The CW. To unblock Hulu, go with Surfshark – a VPN with amazing speeds.
- YouTube TV. There are many VPNs that can seal the deal for this streaming platform. If you’re looking for something that’s friendly on the wallet, NordVPN is a good option.
- FuboTV offers access to US broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. For FuboTV, I’d recommend NordVPN as it’s a very beginner-friendly and speedy service for streaming.
AT&T TV offers a 14-day free trial while Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV all come with week-long free trials. So, if you sign up for any of the three right before the Academy Awards and cancel your subscription immediately afterward, you won’t have to spare a single dollar.
And if you need more extensive guides on how to watch these streaming services from anywhere in the world, you can check out our in-depth posts:
- How to watch Hulu outside the US – learn how to bypass location restrictions for Hulu
- How to watch YouTube TV outside the US – watch YouTube TV from anywhere in the world
- How to watch FuboTV outside the US – stream your favorite shows from anywhere
How to watch the Oscars on your device
You can enjoy the Oscars on just about any smart device. The only caveat is that it needs to be able to be linked up with your VPN. This includes Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. You can also watch in on such devices as Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, or Kodi.
All you have to do after getting a VPN is make sure you’re connected to a US server. That’s all the magic – the Oscars will then be unblocked.
And in case you don’t know which VPN service to choose, you can check out our guides which will help you pick the right VPN for you according to the device you’re using:
- Top-notch VPNs for Windows to stream the Oscars
- The best quality VPNs for Mac for unblocking content
- Watch the Academy Awards with the best VPNs for Android
- Check out the top VPNs for iPhone
How to stream the Oscars on your PC or mobile
Whether you want to watch the Oscars on your PC (Windows or Mac) or mobile, you won’t take long to set everything up. All you need to do is follow these steps:
- Choose a VPN. NordVPN is a great solution.
- Download the VPN and follow the installation process.
- Connect to a US server.
- Open your streaming channel, find the Oscars, and you’re good to go!
How to stream the Oscars on Kodi, Roku, or Apple TV
Unfortunately, you cannot install a VPN on Kodi, Roku, or Apple TV. No worries! You can bypass this problem by installing the VPN on your router, instead. Here’s how:
- Choose a VPN that is compatible with routers. I’d recommend NordVPN.
- Install it on your router.
- Connect to a US server.
- Open the streaming service of your choice, type “Oscars” in the search bar, and enjoy.
How to stream the Oscars on Android TV or Amazon Fire Stick
You won’t break a sweat trying to stream the Oscars on your Android TV or Amazon Fire Stick. That’s because all you have to do is:
- Choose a quality VPN service. NordVPN is a great choice for streaming.
- Download and install the VPN.
- Connect to a US server.
- Open your streaming service, find the Oscars, and you’re all set!
Setting up a VPN on these streaming services is as simple as doing it on your desktop. It takes a few minutes and you’re ready to watch the biggest event in the film industry!
And in case you want more detailed instructions on how to stream the Oscars on your device, here are some guides:
- Watch the Oscars on your device with our top VPNs for Kodi
- Learn how to stream the Oscars with the best VPNs for Roku
- Don’t skip the top VPNs for Apple TV
- You can also watch the Oscars with a VPN for Firestick
How to watch the Oscars in any country (without cable)
It’s no easy feat to watch the Oscars if you’ve cut the cord and no longer have a paid TV subscription since ABC is the official broadcaster. Worse, it’s even more challenging if you don’t have cable and from outside of the US. But, the good news is that a VPN will easily take care of the problem.
Watch the Oscars from USA
If you’re living in the US, you can watch the Oscars on:
- ABC.com
- ABC app
- AT&T TV
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
- FuboTV
But, you’ll have to check if the live networks are available for your ZIP code. If they are unavailable, you can still watch the Oscars with VPN.
Watch the Oscars from Canada, Australia, or UK
In Canada, the exclusive rights of the Academy Awards are held by Bell Media. So Canadians who want to watch the event can do it on the CTV networks. This includes their website on desktop and mobile as well as their CTV app which is available on Android and iOS.
As for Australians, viewers can hop on Channel 7. It’s even possible to watch the red carpet session (which is broadcasted two hours prior to the event). And if you’re from the UK, Sky Cinema will have your back.
So, if you’re without cable, you’ll have to connect to a VPN to get around the digital restrictions. In the case of streaming the Oscars, I’d recommend NordVPN. This provider ensures you can watch your favorite shows without buffering issues from anywhere in the world.
After getting a VPN, you’ll just have to select a live streaming service that offers the ceremony. Most of them, like Hulu + Live TV, offer 7-days or longer free trials, so you can use them to watch the event.
Streaming services that you can get to watch the Oscars include:
- AT&T
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
- FuboTV
And that’s it! Hollywood’s biggest night right in your home.
The 94th Academy Awards Overview
Just like any award-worthy movie, 2022’s Oscars ceremony brings plenty of twists. The main one, of course, is that for the second year in a row, the event won’t happen on its usual time – February. This year, the ceremony will happen on the 27th of March.
Despite of the twists or because of them, the 94th Academy Awards promises to be an exciting affair.
Even though the COVID-19 virus is still present, you should witness your beloved stars walking on the red carpet on March 27 unless any changes are announced.
What’s also interesting is that this year, the Oscars are going to be a three-act show. Therefore, there are going to be three hosts – Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes.
To keep up with the latest details and excitement, head to the official Oscars Twitter account.
This year, the movie The Power of the Dog received the most nominations – a total of 13. The Sci-fi and adventure movie Dune has been nominated 10 times, followed by West Side Story and Belfast which received 7 nominations each.
For more nominations, check the official Oscars website.
Why is a VPN not working with the Oscars stream?
It’s possible that your Oscars stream is not working even if you’re using a VPN. There can be a few different reasons for that.
For example, the VPN you’re using might be leaking your real location. Or, the streaming site of your choice might have blocked the IP addresses of the VPN you’re using. It’s even possible that the cookies on your device reveal where you’re really from.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do if you cannot access the site of your choice:
- Clear the cache and cookies from your system
- Try using another browser (or even the Incognito mode)
- Use the security features of your VPN, like obfuscated servers
- Contact the customer support of your VPN provider
Also, some VPNs are more prone to being blocked than others. You can try a tool like NordVPN if your current service doesn’t work.
How to watch the Oscars online for free
It’s actually possible to watch the Oscar ceremony for free – you’ll just need to put in a bit of an effort.
First of all, you need to get a free trial of a streaming platform that offers the Oscar stream. For example, AT&T TV has a 14-day free trial.
Then, you can simply get a VPN that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee – you just simply need to claim your money back before the trial period ends. It’s really easy to do that with NordVPN and Surfshark. And that’s it!
However, you can also get a free VPN service, but keep in mind that it will have some limits like a monthly quota of data, as well as a small selection of countries. A couple of the best freemium options are ProtonVPN and Atlas VPN.
Just make sure to steer clear of unsafe free VPNs that don’t offer a paid version at all – they might steal your personal information.
Bottom line
If you’re not a US citizen, or are traveling abroad, watching the Oscars is still possible with the help of a VPN and a streaming service. Even though the Oscars can only be watched for free on cable TV in only a number of countries, a VPN can unblock the streaming service libraries of those locations. This means you can enjoy the Academy Awards from the comfort of your own bed.
If you don’t really need a streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV or FuboTV, you can get any of them with a free trial and cancel them after the show. This way, you save a bunch of money and invest them in a quality VPN to unblock the Oscars. I’d recommend NordVPN which is fast and a great choice for streaming.
And if you run into any problems or simply want to ask a question, you can always drop a line in the comment section below!
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