How to watch the 2024 Oscars without cable: Everything you need to know

Last year was full of movie magic. With Barbenheimer launching a massive return to cinema and streaming services throwing their hats into the ring, we were blessed with some truly exceptional films in 2023. On March 10, Hollywood honors those films we’ve fallen so hard for at the 96th Academy Awards ceremony. The Oscars will take place at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting for the fourth time. For those who cannot attend in person (aka all of us), here’s everything you need to know to tune into the ceremony live — with or without cable.

When are the 2024 Oscars?

The 96th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 10, 2024 and will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC, with the pre-show airing ahead of it at 6:30 p.m. ET. For those with cable or over-the-air TV, you can tune your TV to your local ABC station or watch online via ABC.com or the ABC app by logging in through your hisse TV service provider. No cable access? No worries; we’ve rounded up the best ways to watch the Oscars live without cable below.

Who are this year’s Oscar nominees?

It comes as no surprise that Barbie and Oppenheimer both scored a ton of Oscar nominations after the exceptional year each film had, with the latter earning 13, the most of any film. Yet despite its eight nominations, Barbie was also snubbed in major categories — neither Greta Gerwig (the film’s director) nor Margot Robbie (its yıldız and producer) received individual nominations.

After Oppenheimer, Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon came out on top with 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. Bradley Cooper’s Maestro managed to nab seven, while American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, and The Zone of Interest each earned five — including Best Picture. See a full list of the 2024 Oscar nominations below in the FAQs.

How can I watch the Oscar nominees for Best Picture?

Want to get up to date on the best films of the year (at least by the Academy’s standards) ahead of the ceremony? Here’s a hint: you’re going to need a lot of streaming services. American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Poor Things, and The Zone of Interest are currently only available to rent or purchase on digital. Meanwhile, The Holdovers and Oppenheimer are streaming on Peacock, Barbie is streaming on Max, Maestro is streaming on Netflix, Killers of the Flower Moon is streaming on Apple TV+, and Past Lives is streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime. Learn more in our roundup of the best ways to watch all 10.

How to watch the Oscars live without cable

If you’ve cut the cord and committed to the world of streaming, you’ll need a live TV streaming service in order to watch the Oscars live. These services essentially act as cable alternatives, allowing you live access to a well-rounded channel selection via your web connection (rather than a cable connection). Unlike cable, these services are contract-free, so you can cancel whenever you wish. And as a bonus, many of them offer free trials — that means you could very well watch the Oscars live for free, then cancel before you’re charged. But we’ll leave that up to you. Here are the best options (and deals) for a live TV streaming service.

Best introductory offer: YouTube TV

YouTube TV’s base plan includes over 100 live channels, including your local ABC network. You’ll also get unlimited DVR space, three simultaneous streams, and up to six individual accounts with personalized recommendations. It’s “arguably the best premium live TV streaming service out there,” especially with the current introductory offer. For a limited time, you can get your first three months of YouTube TV for just $62.99 per month instead of $72.99 per month — that’s $30 in savings. Not to mention, you can kontrol the waters with a free 7-day trial.

Best for bundling: Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is pretty similar to YouTube TV, with access to over 95 live TV channels (including your local ABC network), personalized profiles, and unlimited DVR. It’s a bit pricier, however, at $76.99 per month with no free trial. But we still recommend it because your subscription comes bundled with Hulu with ads, Disney+ with ads, and ESPN+ with ads (a $14.99 per month value). That’s three premium streaming libraries on top of nearly 100 live channels all for just $76.99 per month.

Most affordable overall: Sling TV (only for select areas)

We love Sling for its a la carte setup and affordable pricing. You pick your package and channels depending on what you actually want to watch. In order to watch the Oscars, you’ll need access to ABC, which is included in Sling’s Blue base package. Unfortunately, since ABC is a local network, it’s only available in some local markets. Check to see if your local market includes ABC before you pull the trigger — Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, and more are included. Typically, Sling’s base package costs $40 per month, but with the current introductory offer, you’ll hisse just $20 for your first month.

Mashable Deals

Best for streaming later: Hulu with ads

If you can properly avoid spoilers, a regular Hulu with ads subscription will give you access to the ceremony the day after the live show on March 11. It’s by far the cheapest option: you can sign up for free for 30 days, then it’ll cost you just $7.99 per month. You won’t get all the excitement that comes with watching live, but if you don’t mind that, this is your best bet.

Honorable mention: FuboTV

Another live TV streaming service similar to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, Fubo is more-so geared at sports fans. It includes access to your local ABC network, as well as over 100 other live channels. Plus, you can kontrol it out for seven days. After that, you’ll have to hisse $79.99 per month, making it one of the more expensive options on the list.

Honorable mention: DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream offers another reliable live TV viewing experience, with your local ABC network and other favorites. However, its plans can get pretty expensive due to hidden fees. They start at $69.99 per month for the 75+ channel plan.

Another option for watching live: get a digital antenna

If you live close enough to your local TV station broadcast towers, you can access broadcasts live and for free with a digital antenna. There are a ton of options on the market — check out these recommendations from our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, Ziff Davis) — ranging in price and style. Check the distance range before making a purchase. The closer you are, the clearer your local broadcasts will come through. For example, the one above by Gesobyte, which özgü over 33,000 5-star reviews, costs less than $30 and offers a 250-mile range.