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how can i watch american idol

You can watch American Idol in a few main ways, depending on whether you want live TV or streaming later on.

Where to watch live

  • In the US, new American Idol Season 24 episodes air on ABC at 8 p.m. ET on Monday nights.
  • If you have cable or an over‑the‑air antenna that gets ABC, you can watch it live on your local ABC station.

Streaming without cable

  • Episodes are available to stream on Hulu the day after they air on ABC; recent guides note that Season 24 episodes drop on Hulu following the Monday broadcast.
  • You can also watch ABC live through streaming “live TV” bundles such as Fubo , YouTube TV , and Hulu + Live TV , which include ABC in many markets.
  • Some services promote free trials (for example, Fubo or DirecTV Stream trials that include ABC), which you can use to watch the premiere or sample a few episodes.

Watching from outside the US

  • Current guides explain that if you’re traveling abroad, regional restrictions may block ABC or Hulu, so viewers often use a VPN to appear as if they’re back in their home region and then log into Hulu or a live‑TV service.
  • In Australia, older seasons are available free on 7plus , but Season 24 may arrive later than in the US.
  • In the UK, there is no confirmed live broadcaster for the new season yet; older episodes have appeared on Netflix, while North American travelers in the UK typically rely on a VPN plus their US streaming accounts.

Official app and extras

  • ABC offers an official American Idol experience through the American Idol – Watch and Vote app, which lets you watch highlights, follow contestants, and vote during live shows rather than stream full broadcast episodes.
  • Full on‑demand episodes are available through ABC’s own website and app (ABC.com and ABC app) when you sign in with an eligible TV provider or supported streaming bundle.

Quick recap

  • Live: ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET via cable, antenna, or a live‑TV streaming bundle that carries ABC.
  • Next‑day streaming: Hulu in the US.
  • Extras and voting: American Idol app plus ABC.com for clips and some full episodes with a provider login.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.