US Trends

who is streaming the ball drop

Several major platforms are streaming the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop this year, including a completely free official webcast plus multiple TV- network streams via live TV apps. You can watch without cable through the Times Square site and its socials, or by using live TV streaming services that carry the main networks.

Main free streaming options

  • Official Times Square webcast :
    • TimesSquareNYC.com hosts a commercial‑free live webcast of the full Times Square celebration, including the 11:59 p.m. ET ball drop.
* The same official feed typically streams on the Times Square pages on YouTube, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
  • Major news outlets on YouTube and other platforms often carry live countdown feeds (e.g., Associated Press, BBC, etc.), which show the NYC countdown and ball drop as it happens.

In practice, if you want a totally free, legal stream, the Times Square official webcast and its mirrored social streams are the most reliable “no- login” answer.

Network specials that include the ball drop

These aren’t “ball‑drop only,” but their shows carry the countdown and the drop at midnight ET.

  • ABC – “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” streams if you have:
    • Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or another service that includes ABC in your area.
  • CNN – “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen”:
    • Available on CNN’s own streaming subscription (such as CNN’s premium app/All Access) and to traditional pay‑TV subscribers via sign‑in.
  • CBS – “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash”:
    • Airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ Premium and any live TV service that carries CBS.
  • Nexstar “Coast‑to‑Coast Countdown 2026”:
    • Shown on Nexstar stations and many of their free station apps (like KTLA+ or WGN+), and also available via live TV streaming bundles that carry those locals.

Ways to watch without cable

If you don’t have a traditional TV subscription, you still have several options to see the NYC ball drop live.

  • Use the official Times Square webcast (no login, free, browser or smart‑TV web app).
  • Watch on Times Square’s YouTube/Facebook/X channels; there is typically an easily found “New Year’s Eve Live” stream on each.
  • Look for reputable live feeds on YouTube from major outlets (e.g., AP’s “New York ball drop live” stream).
  • If you’re okay with a short‑term subscription, sign up for a month of a live TV service (Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, DirecTV Stream) and tune to ABC, CNN, CBS, or a Nexstar station’s special.

Some viewers on forums note frustration that on‑demand streamers like basic Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, or standard Peacock don’t include a direct ball‑drop feed; you usually need either the official Times Square stream or some form of live TV access.

Accessibility and extras

  • Times Square’s team has promoted a livestream with open captions and ASL interpretation hosted on YouTube, aimed at making the celebration more accessible.
  • Many network apps also support closed captions if you’re watching through their own streaming apps or via live TV services.

TL;DR:
If you just want “who is streaming the ball drop” with minimal hassle:

  1. Go to the official Times Square NYC New Year’s Eve webcast (site or YouTube/Facebook/X) for a free, commercial‑free stream of the ball drop.
  1. Or use a live TV streaming bundle (Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, etc.) and watch ABC, CNN, CBS, or Nexstar’s New Year’s specials, all of which include the ball drop at midnight.

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