Where to watch the Ball Drop: Live stream New Year's Eve specials
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2025 is nearly over, and one of the most popular ways to ring in the new year is with one of the many TV New Year's Eve specials. We've highlighted everything you need to know about where to watch the Ball Drop, including live streaming info for coverage from CNN, ABC, and CBS.
If you're truly only interested in watching the Times Square Ball Drop, then there are tons of free live streams online. But if you're hoping to tune into one of the iconic New Year's Eve specials, you'll probably need access to either cable, an antenna, or a live streaming service. The biggest New Year's Eve traditions include CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, and CBS' New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash.
Below, we've outlined some of the best services to help you live stream the New Year's Eve specials. Coverage for most major networks kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and extends into the early hours of the morning.
How to watch Ball Drop New Year's Eve specials in the US
As we mentioned above, CNN, ABC, and CBS carry some of the most iconic New Year's Eve specials, with hosts from CNN and ABC reporting directly from Times Square. NBC and FOX also broadcast their own coverage, and some of the streaming services we highlight (like DirecTV) will also allow you to tune into those channels.
In fact, DirecTV is our top recommendation if you're looking to watch coverage across multiple channels. You can find robust local network and news (ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and NBC) coverage in multiple DirecTV plans, the cheapest of which is the DirecTV MyNews genre pack. This option costs $40 a month, but you can get your first two months for $35 a month after a five-day free trial. Local channel coverage varies slightly from region to region, so it's best to double-check what's available in your area before subscribing. DirecTV's Signature plans, which start at $90 a month for the Entertainment tier, also offer extensive channel coverage (including popular sports networks). New users can currently score some major savings on their first month of service.
Fubo and Sling are other popular live TV streaming services that can help you tune into New Year's Eve coverage. Fubo, which starts at $56 a month for its Sports + News pack, offers channels like CBS, ABC, and FOX in its lineup. Just keep in mind that the streamer is missing CNN and NBC. New subscribers can save $10 after a one-day free trial. Sling TV carries CNN in all of its plans, and you can also access select local networks (like NBC, ABC, and FOX — not CBS) in its Sling Blue plan, which starts at $46 a month. Sling's local channel coverage varies by region, so it's a good idea to see what's available in your area before signing up.
If you're only looking to tune into New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash on CBS, then Paramount Plus will be able to help you out. You'll need to opt for the Paramount Plus Premium tier to unlock CBS live streaming. This costs $13 a month and comes with a one-week free trial for new customers.
Similarly, CNN's new streaming service, CNN All Access, offers a live stream of the network. All Access subscriptions (beyond the Basic article-only tier) cost $7 a month, but you can save 50% right now. If you're only interested in ABC's coverage and you don't mind waiting a day, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest should be available on Hulu tomorrow. Hulu subscriptions start at $12 a month and come with a 30-day free trial for new customers.
How to watch Ball Drop New Year's Eve specials from anywhere
If you're traveling abroad and hoping to keep up with your usual watch options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to alter their virtual locations. This way, they can access their go-to websites and apps from almost anywhere. VPNs are also instant ways to boost cybersecurity. Since the services we've highlighted today require US methods of payment, this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling overseas at the moment.
NordVPN has consistently been our top VPN recommendation this year, thanks to its fast speeds, massive server variety, and impressive cybersecurity perks. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more about the app in our official NordVPN review.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.