what can i stream the ball drop on

You’ve got a lot of options to stream the Times Square ball drop, both free and via live TV streaming services, especially going into the 2026 New Year’s Eve.

Fast answer: where to watch

Most people will be covered by one of these:

• Network specials (via cable/antenna or live TV streamers):
  • ABC: “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” carries the Times Square ball drop.

* CBS: “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” sometimes shows the New York ball plus its own performances.

* CNN: “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen,” now available through CNN’s own streaming platform for subscribers.

• Live TV streaming services that carry the above networks:
  • Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream all offer ABC and CBS in most markets, so you can stream the ball drop through those channels if they’re in your local lineup.

• Official Times Square / free online options:
  • Times Square organizers host a free official webcast and YouTube livestream of the ball drop (including a version with open captions and ASL).

Best free or easiest options

• Official Times Square webcast / YouTube
  • Free, no cable needed.
  • Typically starts early in the evening and runs through midnight with the ball drop live.

• Local ABC station (over-the-air)
  • If you have an antenna, you can watch “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” free and see the Times Square countdown at midnight.

If you use streaming services

You can search within these apps for the New Year’s Eve specials:

• Hulu + Live TV: ABC and CBS New Year’s Eve specials, including the Times Square ball drop.

• YouTube TV / Fubo / DirecTV Stream: Live ABC, CBS, and often CNN, so you can pick the show whose vibe you like.

• Some smart TV “plus” channels (like Samsung TV Plus) may also carry coast‑to‑coast countdown specials.

Quick tips before midnight

• Check that ABC, CBS, or CNN are actually in your local channel lineup inside your streaming app before the 31st.

• If you need captions or ASL, favor the official Times Square stream that specifically offers those accessibility features.

TL;DR: The easiest answer to “what can I stream the ball drop on” is: ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” via Hulu + Live TV / YouTube TV / Fubo / DirecTV Stream, or the free official Times Square webcast/YouTube stream if you don’t have cable.

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