How to watch, stream 2024 Academy Awards online for free without cable or on ABC
Tonight’s the night the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences learns just how angry people are about the Barbie snubs.
The 2024 Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 10—and while Openheimer is the film to beat, many film-goers are still fuming over the lack of Best Picture and Best Director nominations for the year’s biggest film.
This is an unusual year for the Oscars. To broaden the audience—and help people stay awake until the final awards are given out—the show will start an hour earlier than normal, kicking off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
This is the 96th year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has honored the best films and performances of the year. Whether you’re pulling for a favorite film or just want to debate the fashions of the evening, it’s typically one of the biggest television events of the year.
Got questions about this year’s Oscars ceremony? We’ve got answers.
When do the Academy Awards take place?
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony will be held Sunday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where can I watch the 2024 Academy Awards?
ABC is hosting this year’s Oscars and it’s the only broadcast channel that will air the event. Other networks, though, will provide coverage of events outside of the Dolby Theater (see below).
What time does red carpet coverage of the 2024 Academy Awards begin?
The Academy Awards are the Super Bowl of film—and like that event, the pre-game starts long, long before the broadcast.
The “Oscars Red Carpet Show” airs on ABC at 6:30 p.m. ET, though the network has covered some arrivals earlier in the day.
Separately, at 4:00 p.m. ET, E! will broadcast live Red Carpet arrivals on “E! Live from the Red Carpet”.
Wait a minute, IS there a red carpet this year?
After swapping out the red carpet last year for one that was more of a champagne or beige color, the Academy has reverted to the classic red carpet.
Who is hosting the 2024 Academy Awards?
ABC favorite Jimmy Kimmel is hosting for the fourth time since 2017—and the second time in a row. That puts him in a fairly exclusive club. Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon have also hosted four times. Johnny Carson had five under his belt, Billy Crystal has hosted nine times and Bob Hope hosted a whopping 19 Academy Award ceremonies.
How can I watch the Academy Awards for free if I don’t have cable?
If you don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, the best way to watch any network program for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. The 2024 Oscars will be broadcast by ABC—meaning you’ve got a good chance of capturing the game over the air, which costs nothing beyond the equipment prices. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.
How can I stream the Academy Awards live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
There are loads of online options to watch the Oscars, some completely free and others with free trial periods. If you’re not near a TV, you can log into ABC.com to watch the show. Don’t have a cable subscription (which you’ll need to watch the official stream online)? Here are a few other options that work just as well.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle, which you’ll need to see the debate, bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
