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For many people, the Academy Awards have become less of a draw over the years. As more and more TV viewers cut the cord from cable and head to streaming pastures, the idea of a network airing arguably the most popular award show makes less and less sense. Explore some of the other options for watching the Oscars in 2021.

The Academy Awards take place on April 25, 2021

An Oscar statue on the red carpet of the 92nd Academy Awards
An Oscar statue on the red carpet of the 92nd Academy Awards | Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images

In June 2020, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced that the 93rd Annual Academy Awards were to be held on April 25, 2021. This was two months later than initially scheduled, allowing for a longer eligibility period.

Unlike many events of the past year, the Academy insisted that this not be a virtual event. Other award shows, like the Golden Globes in February 2021, allowed attendees to accept their awards over video conferencing. This will not be the case with the Oscars, though there are multiple locations for the ceremony.

Where have they aired in the past?

25th Annual Academy Awards in 1953 at the International Theatre, Los Angeles, CA.
25th Annual Academy Awards in 1953 at the International Theatre, Los Angeles, CA. | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

The history of the Academy Awards actually begins with radio. Following the first event, a dinner in which 15 statues were handed out during a short dinner presentation, the award show expanded. It aired via local (and later) international radio broadcast from 1930 through 1952.

Then, in 1953, the very first televised Oscars aired on NBC. The network continued to broadcast the event through 1960. In 1961, ABC aired the Academy Awards for the first time. NBC regained control in 1971, airing the following five ceremonies until 1976 when ABC began its reign once again.

The Oscars air on ABC in the U.S.

Since then, the Academy Awards continued to air on ABC. Disney (which owns ABC) and the Academy signed a new agreement in 2016, extending the contract through a notable year. “In 2028, we’ll mark the Oscars’ 100th anniversary, and ABC is the perfect partner to help us celebrate the magic of movies with our fans,” Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a press release.

In addition to the award show itself, fans can watch the pre-show and after-show on ABC, too. On the Red Carpet at the Oscars begins at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT on ABC and will run until the main event starts at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. Then, On The Red Carpet After The Awards presented by Resorts World Las Vegas airs, followed by On The Red Carpet After Dark.

How can you watch the Academy Awards online?

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For those who won’t have cable or access to an ABC login (which works on ABC.com or the ABC app), watch the Academy Awards is a bit trickier. Fortunately, because Disney owns Hulu, there’s a workaround. People with a Hulu (Live TV) account can stream the award show as it airs. Other live options include YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and Fubo TV.

If you don’t plan to watch the event live or just want to catch the highlights after the fact, there’s an even easier solution. Those with any Hulu account can watch the 2021 Oscars beginning Monday, April 26.

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