Facebook will present a live-stream called "The Oscars Backstage" simultaneously with ABC's broadcast of the 87th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, according to Variety.com.
Streaming of the Oscars backstage action begins at 4 p.m. PT on ABC's Facebook page. The program is expected to feature three channels of live video feeds from more than 20 cameras at L.A.'s Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
The live video stream is part of the newly launched Facebook Trending experience designed to provide real-time updates during the kudocast, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Oscars Backstage" will also be available on Watch ABC desktop, and hand-held devices.
"We're excited to bring viewers backstage and provide exclusive access to all those memorable, talked-about Oscar moments," Christina Kounelias, chief marketing officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told Variety.com.
Variety.com estimates that 70 percent of tablet and smartphone owners use desktop and mobile devices while watching TV. Facebook is considered the most popular of all social media, with 1.4 billion monthly active users.
Under the Facebook deal, ABC's red-carpet pre-show will incorporate exclusive, real-time Facebook data of the most-discussed nominees. Users are expected to be able to ask celebrities questions via through the Facebook page of ABC's "Good Morning America" with their question possibly answered live.
"Oscars Backstage," will be hosted by "GMA" weekend edition co-anchor Paula Faris and Fusion network host Pedro Andrade.
Variety reports that, in addition, GMA and ESPN contributing editor Chris Connelly will return as official greeter on the Oscars Red Carpet.
Actor Matt McGorry of ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" will provide dispatches from the fan bleachers on the Red Carpet. Nick Axelrod, a host on Yahoo Style, will serve as fashion correspondent; ABC News and "GMA" correspondent Sara Haines also will contribute to the "Backstage" feed.
The entire Oscars telecast will be available to stream live for Watch ABC users who subscribe to a participating pay-TV provider in one of the eight ABC-owned markets.
Included in those markets are New York; Los Angeles and Chicago. Live streaming on Watch ABC is currently available through Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Google Fiber and others.
After the live telecast, the full Oscars telecast will be available on-demand via Watch ABC for authenticated pay-TV viewers for three days via Oscar.com, ABC.com, or via the Watch ABC apps for Android and Apple's iOS.
