The 2022 Oscars return this Sunday, March 27 at 8 PM (EST) on ABC. But what if you’re outside of the US and still want to watch live? Or maybe you cut your cable and still want to catch the show when it airs? The answer for both of these scenarios is getting a Virtual Private Network or VPN.
Below are the simple steps to watch the Oscars online free from anywhere:
- Choose and subscribe to a quality VPN. Our recommendation is Surfshark due to the VPN’s speed, server network, and reliability.
- Download the VPN directly from the provider website.
- Log into the VPN using the account information set up in step 1.
- Choose a server in Australia and connect to it. Wait a few moments.
- Head over to the Channel 7 website and sign up for a free account using your name, email, and a postcode in Australia.
- Watch the Oscars at 8 pm EST!
For a list of more Oscars streams (free and paid) and the Oscars shortlists, keep reading the full article below.
The much anticipated night of glitz and glamor, the 2022 Oscars, is back! In the United States, the event will air live on ABC at 8 PM EST this Sunday, March 27.
Hosted by the comedic trio, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes, the 94th Annual Academy Awards promises to be a night of entertainment and laughs, as well as a return to normalcy with the move back to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Even with the international categories and global stars, your options for free live streams of the 2022 Oscars are slim. So what if you can’t catch it on local TV or your country doesn’t have an official broadcaster? It’s simple, we’ll show you how to set up a VPN and watch the Oscars for free online, wherever you are!
How to Watch the 2022 Oscars Online from Anywhere
The Oscars is an important event for those in the movie industry, as well as for the fans that flood the movie theaters and streaming platforms to watch their work. With this large Oscars fan base, you would expect the event to be widely broadcast around the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Based on our research, only a handful of broadcasters own the rights to the Oscars, namely ABC. The good news is, ABC offers the Oscars live stream for free, but there’s a catch. You need a cable subscription to gain access and be located in the region with the rights. If you’re traveling abroad or live outside of the States, ABC’s stream will be blocked due to geo-restrictions. Cord-cutters can also stream the 2022 Oscars through SlingTV, but that will also be blocked outside the U.S.
A VPN can get you around the geo-blocking that websites impose on outsiders, and open up free online streams of the Oscars in other parts of the world. Normally, you wouldn’t be able to access Channel 7’s stream outside of the country. A VPN, however, lets you change your IP address to match the country where a stream is available.
Want to live stream the 2022 Oscars for free? We’ll show you how to connect to a VPN server in Australia and gain access to the free Channel 7 stream online.
Step-by-step guide: Watch the Oscars free online with a VPN
- Signup for a premium VPN. We recommend Surfshark for its speed, network of servers, and dependability.
- Download the VPN from the provider’s website.
- Log into the software with your new account.
- Connect to a server in Australia.
- Navigate to the Channel 7 website and sign up for a free account. You will need to provide your name, email address, and postcode in Australia.
- Tune in at 8 pm EST and enjoy the show!
How to Watch the Oscars Online for Free
Australia’s Channel 7 isn’t the only free online stream of the 2022 Oscars and its red carpet coverage. Below are the free Oscars streams.
| Broadcaster | Country | Type of Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Channel 7 | Australia | Live |
| CCTV6 | China/Hong Kong | Live |
| IMDb TV | USA | Replay |
| The Roku Channel | USA | Live – Red Carpet Only |
Paid Streams of the 2022 Oscars
There are also several paid streams or streams that require a cable subscription. You will find those below. If you’re outside of the country where the stream is based, just connect your VPN to a server in that location.
| Broadcaster | Country | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | USA | Cable subscription required |
| SlingTV | USA | From $35 per month (free trial available) |
| FuboTV | USA | From $69.99 per month (free trial available) |
| YouTube TV | USA | From $54.99 per month (free trial available) |
| Hulu + Live TV | USA | From $69.99 per month |
| Sky Channel 123 | UK | Cable subscription required |
| CTV | Canada | Cable subscription required |
Can I Watch the 2022 Oscars with a Free VPN?
We like free VPNs for some things, especially if that is the only type that can fit into your budget. After all, it’s better to have a free VPN with fewer options and controls than no VPN at all. However, they aren’t our recommendation for live streaming due to several reasons.
- Data and speed limits. The first issue with free VPNs that we wanted to mention is the limited bandwidth and speeds. This means their stream quality is lacking compared to fast premium VPNs. While the Oscars is not a fast-paced sporting event, speed is still a major requirement for a VPN to stream the 2022 Oscars online to ensure an optimal streaming experience.
- Limited servers. Unlike premium VPNs, like Surfshark, free VPNs typically do not offer a wide network of servers. Servers from free VPNs are also usually limited to a few countries. This means if you need a server in Hong Kong, for example, you might be out of luck.
- Less than ideal security and privacy: This is the biggest issue with most free VPNs. Since they do not charge for their product or service, they have to use other means to support the company, mainly advertising revenue. This is done by collecting and sharing their users’ private data with third parties for marketing purposes.
The 2022 Oscars Shortlist
Below are some of the 2022 Oscars shortlists released by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best Picture | “Belfast” “Dune” “Coda” “Don’t Look Up” “Drive My Car” “The Power of the Dog” “King Richard” “Licorice Pizza” “Nightmare Alley” “West Side Story” |
| Original Song | “Down To Joy” from “Belfast” “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” “Be Alive” from “King Richard” “No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die” |
| Original Score | “Don’t Look Up” “Dune” “Encanto” “Parallel Mothers” |
| Actor in a Leading Role | Javier Bardem – “Being the Ricardos” Benedict Cumberbatch – “The Power of the Dog” Andrew Garfield – “tick, tick…BOOM!” Will Smith – “King Richard” Denzel Washington – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” |
| Actress in a Leading Role | Jessica Chastain – “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Olivia Colman – “The Lost Daughter” Penélope Cruz – “Parallel Mothers” Nicole Kidman – “Being the Ricardos” Kristen Stewart – “Spencer” |
| Actor in a Supporting Role | Ciaran Hinds – “Belfast” Troy Kotsur – “CODA” Jesse Plemons – “The Power of the Dog” J.K. Simmons – “Being the Ricardos” Kodi Smit-McPhee – “The Power of the Dog” |
| Actress in a Supporting Role | Jessie Buckley – “The Lost Daughter” Ariana DeBose – “West Side Story” Judi Dench – “Belfast” Kirsten Dunst – “The Power of the Dog” Aunjanue Ellis – “King Richard” |
| Animated Feature Film | “Encanto” “Flee” “Luca” “The Mitchells Vs the Machines” “Raya and the Last Dragon” |
| Visual Effects | “Dune” “Free Guy” “No Time to Die” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” |
| Makeup and Hairstyling | “Coming 2 America” “Cruella” “Dune” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” “House of Gucci” |
| Directing | “Belfast” – Kenneth Branagh “Drive My Car” – Ryusuke Hamaguchi “Licorice Pizza” – Paul Thomas Anderson “The Power of the Dog” – Jane Campion “West Side Story” – Steven Spielberg |
Is Covid-19 Still Affecting the Oscars?
The simple answer is yes, but not as much as in previous years. This is the first time since 2018 that the event will have a host. Additionally, stars will once again gather to walk the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, reminiscent of pre-pandemic shows.
However, movie eligibility for Oscar nominations continues to be affected. Like last year, movies released directly to streaming platforms or DVD are eligible for nominations. One change comes from the previous year’s nomination extension. For 2022, movies have to be released on or after March 1st, 2021 to be considered.
