
How to Watch the 2021 Oscars from ANYWHERE
If there’s ever a year that the Oscar Awards serves its purpose, it´s this one. Created during the Depression to buoy US citizens, the Oscars produced 92 annual uplifting picture winners.
This year, following a recession AND a pandemic, we come to our 93rd Academy Awards ceremony. But for US citizens abroad during this time, there’s a problem. How are they going to watch the 2021 Oscar nominations of best pictures, actors, actresses, original songs, original screenplay and so forth from countries with viewing restrictions?
No problem. Log in to a VPN.
Best VPNs for watching the Oscars
Oscars 2021: Date and start time
US: 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 25.
UK: 1 a.m. GMT, Monday, April 26.
Australia: 10 a.m. AEST, Monday, April 26.
It´s a glorious year for watching the Oscars. Predicted picture winners are Mank, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, Sound of Metal, The Father and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Two of these at least – Nomadland and Minari – reflect an America that could maybe… hopefully… offer us a better future. For Americans at home that’s something to look forward to; but what about those of us abroad? Given geographic restrictions on channel availability, doesn’t that mean we have to wait to watch until our returns. Or is there maybe, just maybe, another way?
There is! A virtual private network – or VPN.
How to watch the Oscars with VPN
If you’re going to be out of the US in April, getting access to live streaming of the Academy Awards could be more challenging depending on your destination. In the UK, the terrestrial TV channel, the BBC, will be covering the nominations.
By creating a private network through which you can connect to the internet, a VPN can mask both your geographical location and IP address, giving you the freedom to choose what country you want to connect through so you can gain access to geographically restricted content. This means ABC will think you’re in the US even while you’re outside the country, giving you full access to this glittering Hollywood experience.
Channels the Oscars will be on for free:
- BBC (UK)
- 9Now (Australia)
- ABC (USA)
- TVNZ 2/TVNZ (NZ)
- Star Movies (India)
Virtual private networks hide your identity, so you can access any TV channel you want from anywhere in complete obscurity.
In contrast to using your own devices where your online activities pass through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) (and so everything can be tracked), a VPN passes your online activities through another ISP and hides that IP address. It also scrambles your data into total gibberish, making that data useless to anyone wanting to access it.
VPNs are the last word in security. They make your data unreadable, they hide your whereabouts, they protect important files, preventing data leakage – and they help you access regional content.
For an undisrupted vision of the Oscars while you’re abroad, a VPN is among your best solutions.
The Best VPN for Streaming the Oscars
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in as many as 160 locations around the world, with hundreds of those servers in the United States. This VPN is compatible with all major platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromebook, Fire TV Stick, and your router.
The best thing about ExpressVPN has got to be the consistently fast speeds your connection has when streaming and downloading online. Many VPNs will make your connection slow down by as much as 60-70%, but with ExpressVPN, you shouldn’t notice a difference to your performance.
For those who have trouble just before the Oscars are set to begin, you can get instant assistance from the customer service team via the online chat platform.
ExpressVPN is our top option of VPNs, but if you decide it’s not right for you there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN
Another popular choice is NordVPN, which has more than 5,000 servers around the world. It has jurisdiction in Panama and a zero-logs policy which means your online movements will never be traced back to you. It does not store connection time stamps, used bandwidth, session logs, IP addresses or other data.
NordVPN has some great unique features like CyberSec which protects you from malware and blocks pesky ads. The DoubleVPN feature takes security to another level by encrypting your data twice.
This VPN is compatible with all major platforms but doesn’t work with smart Android TVs, so keep that in mind if you want to watch the Oscars from your TV. 24-hour customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee mean you can test out the service without being dragged into a long-term contract straight away.
Cyberghost
Another great option is Cyberghost. These guys offer more than 5,600 servers around the globe and are based in Romania, which is excellent as it doesn’t have to comply with data retention laws set in Europe.
Installation is quick and the user interface is very simple to use, so it is perfect for beginners. If you have any issues, there is live chat available, which can be accessed at all times. You can pay for your subscription with your credit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin. There is also a generous 45-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
And the winner is … ExpressVPN!
ExpressVPN gives you:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Ultra-fast streaming speeds
- Apps that are compatible across devices.
- A streaming platform that runs in countries with Internet censorship and surveillance
- 30-Day money-back guarantee
How to Use a VPN for the Oscars 2021 Live Stream
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to bypassing any geo-blocks set down by channels streaming the Oscars 2021.
- Sign up to one of the VPN providers listed above
- Download the client/app
- Sign in to the VPN
- Choose a server location in either the USA (if you have a subscription to a channel showing the Oscars) or a country that provides channels streaming the event for free
- Connect to the server and reload your app/stream
Streaming The Academy Awards
The Oscars 2021 will air live SUNDAY APRIL 25 on ABC and will be televised in more than 225 countries and territories.
1. Sling TV
Sling TV comes with three various plans which include Orange, Blue, and Orange + Blue. The first two options will set you back $25 per month, while Orange + Blue is $40 per month. Users are able to add channels for an additional cost, and there is also a free seven-day trial available.
Sling TV is compatible with Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, Samsung Smart TVs, Android, Xbox, and more. If you wish to record the Oscars, you can purchase 50 hours of Cloud DVR for $5 per month.
2. Hulu Live TV
Hulu is another popular streaming platform that costs $44.95 per month. It is compatible with iOS, Android, Fire TV, Apple TV, Xbox, Roku, Chromecast, some Samsung TV models as well as browsers.
You will have the option of 50 hours of Cloud DVR, but this is expandable to 200 hours for an added cost of $15 per month. There are two simultaneous connections on offer, however, you can upgrade that to an unlimited amount for $15 per month.
Watching the Oscars live stream with Hulu is only possible with a VPN. You can enjoy Hulu from anywhere in the world, keeping in mind that the VPN in question has excellent speeds as you don’t want your live stream of the Oscars to buffer all the time.
3. YouTube TV
YouTube is a little different from your other options in that it allows you to record as much content as you please which will be kept for nine months. YouTube TV allows users to stream from three devices simultaneously for $49.99 or $54.99 per month via Apple.
4. PlayStation Vue
This streaming service has a number of plans which you can choose from including:
- $49.99 per month for Access
- $54.99 per month for Core
- $64.99 per month for Elite
- $84.99 per month for Ultra
This all comes with the ability to record 500 programs for free.
Want to watch the 93rd Oscar Nominations for Free?
SecureThoughts team recommends: Grab a beer and use a Hulu + Live TV free trial deal to watch the award ceremony, followed by viewing winners like Judas and the Black Messiah on ABC.
Oscars 2021 List of Nominees
Movie | Nominations | Where to Watch |
---|---|---|
The Father | Best Picture Best Actor | Amazon Prime Video |
Judas and the Black Messiah | Best Picture | Amazon Prime Video |
Mank | Best Picture Best Director Best Actor | Netflix |
Minari | Best Picture Best Director Best Actor | Amazon Prime Video |
Nomadland | Best Picture Best Director Best Actress | Hulu |
Promising Young Woman | Best Picture Best Director Best Actress | Amazon Prime Video |
Sound of Metal | Best Picture Best Actor | Amazon Prime Video |
The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Best Picture | Netflix |
Another Round | Best Director | Hulu |
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | Best Actor Best Actress | Netflix |
The United States v. Billie Holiday | Best Actress | Hulu |
Pieces of a Woman | Best Actress | Netflix |
Conclusion
It´s a tough time to be away when one of the highlights of the year, the 93rd Oscars Nominations, has finally rolled around. And channel restrictions stop us from viewing. No probs. Log in to a VPN; we rated ExpressVPN our favorite. Grab a coke, beer or mug of green tea and watch to your heart´s content.
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