Be an insider to the Oscars!

For the first time, The Oscars App is available for free on most Android 4.0 devices in Google Play, including Samsung's Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 10.1 and GSIII, as well as the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD in the Amazon app store for Android. The Oscars App continues to be available on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store. The Oscars will air on Oscar Sunday, February 24, live on WOTV4.

 

Fans can now go behind the scenes with The Oscars show host Seth MacFarlane, find out more about the nominees, and start filling out their My Picks interactive ballot. Friends can view and share the ballot on Facebook, which will update in real time the night of the event, ensuring that insiders are instantly aware of their ranking among friends. 

 

In the weeks leading up to the show, the app will feature original video with insider perspectives and behind-the-scenes news on all things Oscar - the nominees, the show itself, and of course, fashion. 

 

On Oscar Sunday, Oscar.com will launch Backstage Pass, giving fans insider access to the show. Sponsored by Samsung, Backstage Pass is designed to be the ultimate complement to the live telecast, giving fans premier access to the most memorable moments of the night through over a dozen exclusive live cameras strategically placed on the Red Carpet and throughout the Dolby Theatre. Special cameras include the Thank You Cam -- offering winners an extended opportunity to thank their supporters; Backstage Cam -- capturing sound bites, backstage action, short interviews and behind-the-scenes footage; Control Room Cam - allowing users to watch the show's director in action; and Press Room Cam - featuring moments of winners interacting with the world's media moments after leaving the stage. It will also feature real-time highlights from the show itself, which promises many surprises for Hollywood's biggest night.

 

On February 25, fans can relive and share all their favorite water cooler moments, from the winners, to the must see fashion and every unexpected, magical moment. 

 

"Our goal is to create a really full, immersive experience leading up to, during and after the Oscars," said Karin Gilford, SVP of Digital Media for ABC Television Network. "Last year we saw a huge increase in the number of people using the app. With its availability now on the Android platform, we look forward to bringing even more people into the Oscar experience. We want this to be the next best thing to attending the show itself." 

"We're always looking for ways to bring fans closer to the show, and this app provides a unique and fun way to do that," said Josh Spector, Managing Director of Digital Media and Marketing for the Academy. "More fans than ever will be able to enjoy the full Oscar experience now that our app is available to Droid users." 

 

Key features of the app include: 

 

* Magazine-style format featuring photos, videos and the latest social media buzz. 

 

* Viewers can watch the live Backstage Pass experience in two different modes, Watch or Direct. In Watch mode, viewers will be guided through the live behind-the-scenes show. In the Direct mode, viewers can select the cameras they want to experience.