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All speculation regarding the Best Movie of the Year title is about to end, as the 96th Oscars is already in a few days. On March 10th, at 11:00 pm GMT, all cinephiles will aim for one – to watch the Academy Awards. However, watching the Oscars outside the US may be complicated unless you have a VPN.
If you’re in the US, you have several options to catch the awards, including YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or ABC, among others. British viewers can access the Oscars for free via ITVX. However, if you’re in Malaysia or Greenland, you’ll need a VPN to spoof your IP and bypass geo-restrictions on streaming services to watch the Oscars.
Continue to the article, find out how to watch the Oscars online in 2024 with the help of one of the best VPNs, and catch up with the most relevant details about the awards.
How to Watch the Oscars Without Cable From Anywhere
- Pick a VPN with an extensive server fleet. Surfshark has servers in over 100 locations worldwide.
- Download and install the VPN app on the selected device.
- Launch the VPN app and log in to your account.
- Connect to a server based in the US, UK, or Australia.
- Sign up for YouTube TV, ITVX, or CTV, and enjoy the Oscars for free.
- Show Full Guide
Top 3 VPNs to Watch the Oscars Online
- Starting from $2.19/month
- Starting from $6.67/month
- Starting from $3.09/month
- Starting from $2.19/month
- Starting from $2.14/month
- Starting from $29.00/year
- Starting from $1.99/month
- Starting from $2.19/month
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch the Oscars Online?
You don’t need to dig deep to see a list of reasons to use a VPN to watch the Oscars online. Here are a few of the most notable ones:
- Bypass geo-restrictions. Streaming the awards online is limited to select countries such as the US, UK, Australia, or Canada. However, if you’re located elsewhere, you can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming platforms and access the Oscars online from any location.
- Watch the Oscars for free. If your local broadcaster doesn’t offer a free trial, you can utilize a freemium VPN to change your IP address and access foreign streaming services, such as YouTube TV or ITVX, that are free or have risk-free trials.
- Avoid lagging. With the help of a VPN, you can improve your connection speeds and enjoy a lag-free Oscars stream. VPNs hide your online activities from the Internet service provider (ISP), thus not letting them throttle your connection.
- Enhance your online security. A VPN is essential for those streaming the Oscars online on unprotected networks. It encrypts your online traffic and masks personal details, preventing snoopers from threatening you.
Best VPNs for Streaming the Oscars Live
Choosing the right VPN for streaming the movie awards can be tricky with the growing VPN market. To stream the 96th Academy Awards online, you must look for one with many servers globally, reliable unblocking of streaming services, and fast connection speeds.
However, we have simplified the process and listed the top 3 VPNs to watch the Oscars online below.
1. Surfshark – The Best Oscars VPN Overall
| Cheapest Plan | Max Devices Supported | Free Version | Server Count | US Server Count |
| $2.49 per month | Unlimited | No | 3,200+ | 600+ |
Surfshark is the best VPN to watch the Oscars online from anywhere due to its unmatchable talent of combining quality performance with affordability. Its prices start from as low as $2.49/month, with each plan working on unlimited devices simultaneously.
But the price isn’t the main point – Surfshark consistently ensures top-notch online protection. It uses industry-leading encryption to mask your online traffic, strengthening this with the fastest WireGuard tunnel.
The service has over 600 in the US and 3,200+ worldwide; hence, you will be able to find a properly working server in your country. Moreover, Surfshark has the Smart DNS feature, which allows you to unblock streaming services on Smart TVs, gaming consoles, or other devices that don’t support VPN apps. Because of this, it ranks as one of the best streaming VPNs.
Read more in our Surfshark review.
Pros
- Many servers in the US
- Unblocks YouTube TV, Hulu, ITVX, and more
- Uses WireGuard tunnel for fast speeds
- Allows unlimited parallel connections
- Has a free trial on smartphones
Cons
- No free plan available
2. ExpressVPN – Oscars VPN With Enhanced Protection
| Cheapest Plan | Max Devices Supported | Free Version | Server Count | US Server Count |
| $6.67 per month | 8 | No | 3,000+ | N/A |
ExpressVPN is a top-tier VPN known for its protection and streaming capabilities, making it a great choice for watching the Oscars. It reliably unblocks global streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, ITVX, CTV, and others without leaking your real IP.
ExpressVPN, like Surfshark, uses AES-256 encryption. But it stands out by implementing its proprietary Lightway tunneling protocol, which combines top-notch protection with lightning-fast connections. Additionally, it blocks annoying ads and online trackers, keeping your online data to your eyes only.
Even though the actual count of the US servers is unknown, the provider claims to have them in 24 US locations. Either way, we don’t doubt you will find a speedy server working in your country. ExpressVPN is a pricier provider with a starting price of $6.67/month, yet you can use it simultaneously on up to 8 devices.
Read more in our ExpressVPN review.
Pros
- Servers in 24 US locations
- Unblocks a myriad of global streaming services
- Works on up to 8 devices at once
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Pricier than other VPNs on the list
- Speeds can be jumpy
3. NordVPN – Speediest VPN to Watch the Oscars
| Cheapest Plan | Max Devices Supported | Free Version | Server Count | US Server Count |
| $3.39 per month | 6 | No | 6,000+ | 1,970+ |
Coming from the same cybersecurity giant as Surfshark (Nord Security), NordVPN is the fastest VPN for streaming the Oscars online anywhere. With the implementation of the proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol and servers more than 1,970 US servers, this VPN consistently retains over 85% of your baseline network speed.
NordVPN is also known for fantastic content-unblocking capabilities. That said, you can access Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, CTV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, or any other streaming service worldwide. Moreover, its Smart DNS feature ensures you have no trouble accessing geo-blocked content on non-VPN devices as well.
Lastly, this VPN comes with a fair price-to-quality ratio. You receive a next-gen features suite in exchange for as little as $3.39 per month. Additionally, you can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously per user.
Read more in our NordVPN review.
Pros
- Almost 2,000 servers in the US
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Unblocks YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, etc.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t have a free plan
- Possible kill switch failures
Where Can I Watch the Oscars Online?
ABC (American Broadcasting Company) has held the exclusive broadcasting rights for the Oscars since 1976. As a result, numerous streaming services in the US partner with ABC to broadcast the awards. Below, you’ll find a list of these streaming platforms as well as global broadcasters where you can watch the Oscars online.
| Country | Streaming service |
| The US | ABC, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV |
| Canada | CTV |
| The UK | ITVX |
| Ireland | RTÉ Player |
| Germany | ProSieben |
| France, Poland | Canal Plus |
| Belgium | GoPlay |
| Spain | Movistar Plus+ |
| Australia | + 7PLUS |
| Japan | WOWOW |
| India, Indonesia | Disney+ Hotstar |
Don’t worry if your country is not included in the list of countries with the rights to broadcast the Oscars online. You can still watch the Oscars by signing up for a VPN, connecting to a server in one of the listed countries, and then accessing the appropriate streaming service.
Watch the Oscars From Anywhere
Even though watching the Oscars in the US is easiest, that’s not the only nation that has the opportunity to enjoy the famous movie awards. This is how to watch the Oscars from anywhere:
Choose a VPN abundant with servers in the US.
Surfshark has over 600 US servers.
Select a subscription plan, create an account, and download the application.
Connect to a server in the US, UK, Canada, or another country with access to the Oscars.
Head to YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, ITVX, or another streaming service that streams the Oscars.
Enjoy the Oscars!
Watch the Oscars in the USA
Watching the Oscars in the US is straightforward – you can do it via cable, satellite, or online. ABC is the primary broadcaster for the awards, available by default on cable and satellite at no extra cost. If you prefer to watch the Oscars online, options include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, the ABC app, and DirecTV Stream, starting at $73.00/month or with a free trial.
Watch the Oscars in Canada
Despite being a neighbor to the US, Canada offers fewer options for watching the Oscars. However, you can still enjoy the 96th Movie Awards on both CTV and CTV2 entirely for free, providing online streaming and cable access.
Watch the Oscars in the UK
You have two options if you are in the United Kingdom and want to watch the Oscars. You can catch the movie awards on either ITV or ITVX. The former can be accessed through cable and satellite TV, while the latter is an online streaming service. The best part is that both options are completely free.
Watch the Oscars in Australia
Similarly to Canada and the United Kingdom, Australia provides two options to watch the Oscars. To watch it through cable or satellite TV, you can tune in to Seven Network. Alternatively, you can opt for online streaming through +7PLUS. Both services are completely free of charge.
How to Watch Oscars for Free?
If you want to watch the Oscars for free from anywhere, it’s best to use a reliable VPN. In many countries, the Oscars are only broadcast via cable or satellite TV, which means you have to pay a TV service provider to access them. However, it’s a different story in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
The listed countries provide the option to watch the Oscars online for free on a few streaming services, including +7PLUS, ITVX, and CTV. Nevertheless, you don’t have to leave your country to access these streaming services. Simply select a VPN provider with servers in the UK, Canada, or Australia that offers a free trial or a money-back guarantee, such as Surfshark. This will give you access to a free VPN service and the ability to stream the Oscars for free on platforms available in those regions.
Everything You Need to Know About the 96th Academy Awards
Traditionally, the Oscars have been held in February. However, for the second year in a row, they are scheduled for March. Nonetheless, like each year, it’s worth waiting a while and then enjoying hilarious hosts, mesmerizing celebrity outfits, and unexpected laureates.
| Event | Date | Location | Produced by | Host | The movie with the most nominations | More details |
| The 96th Academy Awards | March 10th, 7:00 pm EDT | Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California | Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan | Jimmy Kimmel | “Oppenheimer” | In the official Oscars Twitteraccount and the official Oscars website |
Last year, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert were nominated for Best Director, and their film “’Everything Everywhere All at Once” also won several big awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, among others. We will find out whether Christopher Nolan and “Oppenheimer” will beat this during the 96th Academy Awards on March 10th.
The Oscars Nominations 2024
Here are a few of the most anticipated Oscar nominations this year. However, if you wish to find the full list of Oscar nominees, you can visit the official Oscar site.
Conclusion
Even if you’re not in the US, watching the Oscars is still possible. You can do this with the help of a reliable streaming VPN, which offers numerous servers in the US and other locations. Moreover, the Oscars are not limited to the US; they are also accessible online in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and several other countries.
During our tests, we found that the best VPN to stream the Academy Awards online is Surfshark. It provides you with over 600 servers in the US only, allowing you to find a fast server no matter where you are. Moreover, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial on iOS and Android devices.
