The three best VPNs for watching the Oscars live in Hong Kong, where no TV station is broadcasting the awards ceremony

With TVB deciding not to air the Oscars for the first time in 52 years, a VPN is the only way viewers in Hong Kong can catch the action live
ExpressVPN, Surfshark VPN and ProtonVPN are our top choices – read why below

Hong Kong

Ben Sin

Published: 12:15pm, 22 Apr 2021

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For more than half a century, watching the Academy Awards telecast in Hong Kong was as simple as turning on the TV. But a decision by TVB to not air the ceremony this year has left this city baffled and frustrated, especially for those who want to find out, in real-time, if local director Derek Tsang Kwok-cheung will pick up a statuette for his Better Days, which is nominated for best international feature film.

The good news is that with some help from a trusty VPN (virtual private network), Hongkongers can stream the Oscars directly from US broadcaster ABC’s website.

But first, what is a VPN, and how does it work?

A VPN is software that intercepts the internet connection that flows between your computing device and your internet service provider. Once the data is intercepted, a VPN server is supposed to obfuscate your IP address (the unique identifier of your computing device) and reroute the passage of data through another location (usually of your choice).

Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee in a still from Better Days, which is up for best international feature film at the 2021 Oscars.

In other words, a VPN tricks your computer into thinking it’s connected to an internet connection located somewhere else in the world. It is this method that will allow Hongkongers to access ABC’s US-only stream.

We have tested over a dozen VPNs over the years – here are the three best-performing and safest to use to catch the show.

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We are only listing VPNs that require a subscription because they are far more reliable and secure than free ones. If you really want to be frugal, you can sign up, watch the Oscars, and then cancel immediately after, free of charge, as all these services offer a trial period.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN tops our list because it has the lowest prices and the highest number of Los Angeles servers (where the Oscars and ABC studios are located). The mobile app features a clean interface and is easy to use too, though the desktop app isn’t as well designed.

Prices: HK$100/month, or HK$52/month if you sign for the 15-month package. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back period.

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN is consistently rated as one of the best VPN services by independent tech websites for good reason: it’s got an easy-to-use, aesthetically pleasing app for both desktop and smartphones, and Surfshark allows an unlimited number of devices to use the same account (not at the same time, obviously).

Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Tsang, director of Better Days. Photo: Jonathan Wong

There are dozens of US servers to choose from, including four in LA, and they all run stable and smooth.

Prices: HK$100/month, or HK$20/month if you commit to a two-year plan. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back period.

ProtonVPN

Given the seal of approval by Hong Kong’s IT legislator Charles Mok, ProtonVPN has a clean software interface and dozens of US servers. There’s also a free plan, though data speed is throttled, so we’d recommend signing up for the paid plan to ensure a smooth stream. The last thing you’d want is lag or stutter right before winners are announced.

Prices: HK$74/month. ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back period.