where can i watch the ball drop on tv

You can watch the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop on the major broadcast networks and several free live streams, even if you don’t have cable.

Main TV options

• ABC – Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest carries the iconic Times Square ball drop; just tune in to your local ABC station in the late evening through midnight.

• CNN – New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen broadcasts from Times Square with live coverage of the countdown and ball drop.

• NBC – New Year’s Eve specials on NBC often include Times Square shots and countdown segments leading into midnight.

• CBS – While CBS focuses more on its New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash , it typically still checks in on the New York countdown.

Where to stream it

• Network apps & sites – You can stream ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage live if you log in with a participating TV provider through their apps or websites.

• Live TV streaming services – Services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream carry the big broadcast networks, so subscribing to one lets you watch the ball drop live without cable.

• Free official Times Square webcast – There is also a dedicated, free Times Square New Year’s Eve webcast that focuses just on the live stage program and ball drop, often embedded on news sites or platforms like YouTube.

If you don’t have cable

• Use an over‑the‑air antenna to pick up ABC, NBC, CBS, or Fox in HD for free and watch any of their New Year’s Eve specials that show the ball drop.

• Or combine a free trial from a live TV streaming service (if available in your region) with the official Times Square webcast or a news outlet’s free YouTube stream of the countdown.

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Wondering where you can watch the ball drop on TV this New Year’s Eve? Learn which channels, free streams, and apps carry the Times Square countdown and how to watch without cable.