OSCARS: ABC Unveils Streaming And Second Screen Plans For Oscar Telecast

ABC says this is the first year when it will stream the full Oscar telecast, pre-show, and  Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars — although they’re just for pay-TV customers in certain markets. But anyone will be able to check out programming designed for tablets and smartphones to complement the TV broadcast, something that the network began offering in 2011.  For the telecast itself: It’ll be available live and, for three days beginning Monday, on demand online at Oscar.com, ABC.com, and WATCHABC.com – and mobile users can tune in through the WATCH ABC app. The streams will only go to markets where ABC owns the local station (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham, and Fresno). And they’ll only be accessible to those who subscribe to pay TV services that support the app (Comcast, Cablevision, Cox, Charter, Midcontinent, Verizon FiOS, Google Fiber, and AT&T U-verse).
But anyone will be able to watch the second screen programming, called The Oscars Backstage, through WATCH ABC. The content will feature commentary from reporter/critic Ben Lyons while fashion retail writer Hitha Prabhakar handles red carpet and backstage duties. People magazine Managing Editor Peter Castro and ESPN contributing editor Chris Connelly also will contribute. The second screen programming will provide access to views from 15 live cameras feeding three channels. The site also will offer the official Oscar Buzz social media feed and photo galleries.
In addition to the live content, ABC says it will post ... Read More »

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