How to watch the 2025 Academy Awards, live for free—and without cable: ABC, Hulu

This year, perhaps more than any other in recent years, the Academy Awards are something of a mystery.

The early frontrunner for Best Picture, Emilia Perez, seems to have lost its momentum. Buzz around Conclave is growing. And Anora, which has flown under a lot of radars, is surging now and could win the night. Meanwhile, the races for Best Actor, Actress and Director are just as jumbled.

Unpredictability is a good thing, however. Surprises keep people tuned in. And this year’s Oscar host, Conan O’Brien, is a master of improv and will feed on that chaos.

Once again, this year’s Academy Awards will look to broaden the audience and help people stay awake until the final awards are given out. As a result, the show will start an hour earlier than in previous years, kicking off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

This is the 97th year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has honored the best films and performances of the year. It’s a film-lover’s version of the Super Bowl.

Got questions about this year’s Oscars ceremony? We’ve got answers.

When do the Academy Awards take place?

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony will be held Sunday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Where can I watch the 2025 Academy Awards?

ABC is hosting this year’s Oscars on the broadcast side, but for the first time the ceremony will be available live on a streaming service: Hulu. Other networks, though, will provide coverage of events outside of the Dolby Theater (see below).

What time does red carpet coverage of the 2025 Academy Awards begin?

Like the Super Bowl, coverage of the Oscars begins well before the awards ceremony begins.

The On the Red Carpet at the Oscars will air on ABC-owned stations at 3:30 p.m. ET. The network will begin carrying The Oscars Red Carpet Show starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on a widespread basis.

Separately, at 4:00 p.m. ET, E! will broadcast live Red Carpet arrivals on “E! Live from the Red Carpet”.

Who is hosting the 2025 Academy Awards?

Conan O’Brien takes the reins for the first time this year, though he’s hardly a stranger to hosting big awards shows. He previously hosted the Primetime Emmys in 2002 and 2006, as well as the MTV Movie Awards in 2014.

How can I watch the Academy Awards for free if I don’t have cable?

If you don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, the best way to watch any network program for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. The 2025 Oscars will be broadcast by ABC—meaning you’ve got a good chance of viewing it over the air, which costs nothing beyond the equipment prices. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.

How can I stream the Academy Awards live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?

If you’re not near a TV, you can log into ABC.com to watch the show. Cancelled your cable subscription (which is required to watch the official stream online)? Here are a few other options.

Disney+

Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month for no ads on Hulu).

Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).

Hulu with Live TV

The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $77 per month.

YouTubeTV

After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, unfortunately.

DirecTV Stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.