ABC Will Live-Stream Oscars to Web, Mobile Apps for First Time -- But There’s a Catch

ABC will use the Oscars telecast as a carrot to lure viewers to its Watch ABC mobile and web video services. But the network is setting up a digital velvet rope: It will let only subscribers of participating pay-TV providers in eight markets watch the full show over the Internet.

ABC also has retired its standalone Oscars app, which the network debuted in 2011 to provide live looks into the action backstage and on the red carpet. Instead, that content will be folded into Watch ABC, but will be available to anyone in the US for free. The decision to phase out the dedicated Oscars app was made to get the content “in front of the largest addressable audience without them having to download a separate app,” said Karin Gilford, senior VP of digital media for ABC Television Network.