How to follow the Oscars online: TV, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter

A SELECT portion of the US audience will have access to a legit online stream of the Oscar ceremony.

On TV

The Disney-owned ABC television network does provide a sanctioned method for watching the entire show online for those that won't be watching by the ABC TV channel, though viewers need to fulfill a couple of requirements first.

They'll need to be physically located in the US or its territories, at which point access is gained to live show "The Oscars Backstage," via the WATCH ABC app or abc.com. That starts at 4pm PT / 7pm PT on February 22nd, in advance of the ceremony's start at 5.30pm PT / 8.30pm ET.

Those who are within one of eight areas -- Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco -- are also able to watch ABC's online live stream of the Oscar ceremony. That's as long as they have an account with a participating TV provider: a cable, satellite or telecommunications company.

Though ABC doesn't provide a list of those providers in its Oscars Live FAQ, a regionally-appropriate rundown can be found from within the official WATCH ABC app.

On mobile devices and computers

The network's WATCH ABC app is available for a variety of mobile and smart devices. There's an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch on iTunes (iOS 7.0 or higher is required), one for Windows 8 Tablet or Desktop, and another for Windows 8.1 Phones.

For devices running Google's Android or its variants, the app can be found on Google Play and the Amazon App Store.

Oscars website

A plethora of web addresses all point to the Academy Awards' official online home -- oscar.go.com -- and the site acts as not only historical archive of Oscars past, and key locus for official statements and announcements, but also promises announcement footage, a red carpet and fashion focus, photo galleries, real-time Oscar moments, and a My Picks challenge to share with friends.

YouTube

Two official channels exist to offer pre-recorded video content in the build-up to, and aftermath of, each Oscars ceremony.

The self-titled Oscars channel specializes in main stage clips, backstage interviews, selected interviews or thematic compliations from the Academy Film Archive, and 10- to 15-minute cuts from the Academy Conversations series, in which cast and directors elaborate on the awards' nominees.

The Academy Originals channel has this year been rolling out a series called Creative Spark, in which notable members of the filmmaking industry explain what they do -- whether it be casting, screenwriting, costume design or whatever else -- and how they do it. 2015 awards host Neil Patrick Harris also reveals a little about the process behind his preparations for the big night.

Twitter

Breaking from the branding pattern established thus far, it's @TheAcademy which is responsible for Oscar chat. Not just official announcements either, but a stream stuffed with re-tweets from stars, hosts, writers, producers and anyone else involved with the show who can provide a personal perspective on the event.

Facebook

By contrast, facebook.com/TheAcademy is slightly more pared back, reserved even, and during build-up at least, not predisposed to dupilcating content from other social media channels. The Mountain View equivalent, plus.google.com/+Oscars, is less busy in comparison. Both facebook.com/oscars and facebook.com/ABCnetwork are to carry live content from The Oscars Backstage.

Instagram

A reliable source for the up-close and behind-the-scenes images coming from Academy staffers, instagram.com/TheAcademy provides a throng of up-to-date images that go on to appear across the organization's other outlets, making it the place to go for instant updates from an alternative angle.