Here's How To Watch The 2019 Oscars

The 91st annual Academy Awards are fast approaching and it’s time to start preparing now if you want to make sure that you are all caught up by the time the show airs on ABC on Sunday, February 24 at 8pm EST/7pm CST.

There’s already been a lot of chatter about what viewers can expect when it comes to the actual awards show, with confirmation that this year’s show won’t have a host and news that certain categories would be presented during commercial breaks making headlines in the weeks ahead of the show. It’s created a unique mix of curiosity, dread, and confusion from both celebrities and regular movie fans alike about what exactly will happen during Hollywood’s most prestigious award show of the year.

In addition to questions around what the actual structure of the show will look like, with key changes made to its format, viewers will also no doubt be eager to see how the actual awards portion of the show will pan out, with many of the main categories like Best Picture, Best Director, and the Best Actor categories all featuring nominees who can go toe-to-toe with one another. With all this in mind, you’re going to want to make sure you have the inside track on how you can watch the 2019 Oscars. Here’s how:

If You’re Here For The Red Carpet…

The celebrity arrivals on the red carpet are as much of a focal point during any given Oscars as the actual show. Checking Twitter or Instagram won’t be enough to satisfy those looking for their first glimpse at which celebs are arriving and what – and who – they are wearing. This is where fashion trends are spotted and viewers can properly “Ooh” and “Aah” over what is the most luxurious and glitzy night in Hollywood.

Thankfully, E! News is never one to disappoint when it comes to broadcasting live from the Oscars red carpet. You’ll be able to tune in to E! through your cable provider or, if you’re in a TV-less household, you can watch E!’s red carpet coverage through YouTube TV or Sling TV, both of which offer trial periods you can sign up for at no additional cost. E!’s Live from the Red Carpet, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic, will begin broadcasting from the Oscars red carpet at 5:30pm EST/4:30CST.

ABC will air their own red carpet coverage, which will feed directly into the Oscars ceremony. You’ll be able to tune in to ABC via the aforementioned YouTube TV, Sling TV, your cable provider, or, for those of you who are old-school, your antenna and a working TV. Or, if you’re looking for something with no trial periods attached and you’re in a TV-less household, you can always head over to the ABC app or ABC Go. Be mindful that you may need a cable login to access either of these sites, so be prepared with that info if needed.

Also? Make sure to double check that other unconventional viewing options — like the Academy’s Facebook page (which aired the 2018 red carpet coverage) or Playstation Vue – are airing the red carpet this year. Both are viable alternatives to TV in this case.

If You Want To Watch The Awards Show…

Watching the actual Oscars ceremony means you’ll have limited options.

ABC is the only network that will air the Oscars, so choosing the method of access that gets you to ABC is really your biggest dilemma here. The most obvious viewing option here is watching on ABC, whether that’s through your antenna or cable provider, the ABC app, ABC Go, YouTube TV, or Sling TV. No matter what you choose, make sure to tune in at 8pm EST/7pm CST, when the Oscars finally begin.

Finally, if you happen to miss the Oscars but you have a Hulu subscription (a very unique intersection, we know), then you’ll be able to watch the Oscars in its entirety on Monday, February 25. Or if you have the Hulu Live TV beta, you can stream along via ABC. Everybody got that? Phew.