By Jeremy Cabalona For Mashable
Billy Crystal will host the 84th Academy Awards tonight on ABC. The Oscars begin at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT, with red carpet festivities beginning at 7 p.m. ET. With the Oscars 2012 online experience, your night can involve more than simply watching a TV screen.
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The big question is: “Can I watch the Oscars online?” Unfortunately, unlike this year’s Super Bowl — which was available to stream free online — the Oscars will not offer a complete online stream.
However, ABC is offering an official Oscars Back Stage iOS app for iPhone and iPad. This app will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the ceremony, including access to the control room, views from multiple cameras and interviews with the winners. Last year, the Oscars offered an all-access online experience for $4.99. This year, the experience-enhancing app will be available free. Even though the Oscars Back Stage experience won’t offer the actual broadcast, it is a nice companion to enrich your television-viewing experience.
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Android users don’t have to miss out on the action. E!’s Live From the Red Carpet app is available for free from the Android Marketplace.
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You can also follow the Red Carpet festivities live online from AP and Livestream. Starting at 5 p.m. EST, the stream will offer interviews with nominees and a view of the red carpet. And, make sure to follow the official Oscars website for interviews, live streams, and up-to-date information about the winners.
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Don’t forget to enter our Oscars contest for your chance to win the exclusive Special Edition “Red Carpet” Droid Razr Maxx.
A complete schedule of Oscars events can be found here.
How will you be watching the Oscars? Does social TV add to your viewing experience?
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, EdStock
