Streaming the Oscars 2023: How to Watch from Outside the US

02-Mar-2023

Every January, apart from delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022, the entertainment industry and film enthusiasts worldwide turn their focus to the Academy Awards nomination announcement. Excitement and anticipation reach all-time highs in the weeks leading up to the Oscar show when hundreds of millions of moviegoers tune in to see who will get the most coveted prize in cinema.

Whether you’re invested in the history, the Hollywood glamor, or the unpredictability of a live broadcast, the Academy Awards is a show you don’t want to miss, no matter where you are in the world.

This year, the 95th Academy Awards will be presented on March 12, 2023, with popular late-night talk show personality Jimmy Kimmel hosting. Here is all you need to learn about watching the Oscars from outside the US.

Can you stream the Oscars for free?

ABC (American Broadcasting Company) has held exclusive rights to broadcast the Oscars since 1976. Since ABC is only available in the United States and its territories, viewers in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world will be unable to watch the show.

In the US, you can watch the Oscars free via cable or satellite with ABC. American viewers also have many streaming options, such as YouTubeTV and Hulu Live TV. American viewers can also directly stream with the ABC app and on ABC’s website after authentication.

For those outside the US who want to watch the Oscars, the show is broadcasted in over 200 countries via specific networks. In the UK, for example, you can watch via Sky. However, only some have access to these networks or use a different network provider.

Luckily, a virtual private network (VPN) is the most reliable way to access a broader range of streaming options.

How to watch the Oscars on ABC

ABC allows access to the shows offered on its site and the ABC app to anyone physically located in the US or its territories. If you attempt to watch live TV from outside the US, you will see a message that you are prohibited due to international rights agreements. However, there is a way to get around this with Urban VPN.

After installing Urban VPN, use it to connect to a server in the United States. Next, regardless of your location, go to ABC’s website or app to view all of its live and on-demand programs. Although ABC online is free to access, it may ask you to log in with a TV provider. In this case, you can try a different streaming option.

How to watch the Oscars without ABC

Other than ABC, there are plenty of ways to watch the Oscars. As mentioned previously, the show will be streamed on Hulu, as well as on YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, and FuboTV. All these platforms have the right to broadcast the Oscars in the US. If you try to stream outside the United States, you will see an error message stating that the content is unavailable in your location. The great thing is that you can get around these restrictions by using Urban VPN.

First, you need to choose which streaming service you want to use. An excellent tip to keep in mind is that you can acquire a free trial of any of the above sites, allowing you to watch the Oscars for free. Once you download the Urban VPN to your device, you can choose over 80 worldwide servers.

Connecting to a US server before beginning the stream would be best. Urban VPN will then assign you an IP address from that location, and you’ll be free of geo-restrictions.

How to watch the Oscars on Hulu

Streaming via Hulu might be the best option to ensure your Oscar viewing goes without a hitch. Hulu Live TV offers seamless streaming with on-demand shows along with live TV viewing options.

To access Hulu content with Urban VPN, follow these steps:

1. Download Urban VPN onto your device.
2. Choose a US server after installing the VPN.
3. Log in or create an account on the Hulu website.
4. Pick your favorite TV show or movie and start watching.
5. For streaming live TV, such as the Oscars ceremony, start the stream while connected to a US server.

You should note that a Hulu subscription is required in order to access the content. Currently, Hulu offers a free 30-day trial for their Hulu and Hulu (No Ads) services before the first billing period. On the other hand, Hulu Live TV does not offer a free trial.

Where to stream the Oscars – A summary

If you want to check whether you can watch the Oscars in your country with your network provider, you can check the list on the official Oscars website.

To stream the Oscars, you can do so via ABC, Hulu, or YouTube. By using Urban VPN to connect to a US server, you will be able to bypass the geo-restrictions imposed on these sites and stream the show from outside the US.

Conclusion

If you are not a citizen of the US or are traveling overseas, you may still watch the Oscars with the use of Urban VPN and a streaming provider. Even though the Oscars are only available for free on cable TV in a few places, Urban VPN can unblock the streaming service in those areas. This means you can watch the Oscars from the comfort of your own home outside the US. If you don’t need a streaming service like Hulu Live TV or YouTube TV, you can sign up for a free trial and then cancel after the show.

For the most reliable streaming experience of Hollywood’s biggest night, be sure to use Urban VPN. In the meantime, while you’re getting ready to watch the 95th Academy Awards, you can catch up on the nominees by streaming the 8 Oscar-nominated movies on Netflix.