How To Watch Stream Ball Drop In Times Square Live Online Free Without Cable : Fox, NBC, ABC, CNN
Two years ago, Times Square was mostly a ghost town. Last year the crowds returned, albeit a little tentatively. As we wrap up 2022, Manhattan could see almost a record number of people watching the year out the door.
This year ends at midnight sharp, when the crystal-encrusted Waterford Ball falls down and its 32,256 LEDs light up the crowd.
If you choose to skip the big crowds and party at home with friends or family, there are countless ways to see the ball drop — even if you’re far from a TV screen.
Here’s how to watch or live stream the 2022 New Year’s Eve Countdown and Ball Drop for free.
Which TV Stations Will Air The Ball Drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve?
Watching the Times Square Ball fall is actually a simple matter, even if you don’t have a cable subscription, since it’s broadcast on so many networks. Just get a good HD antenna (but make sure you test your HD antenna in multiple locations around your house to find the most reliable signal well before midnight).
Here are some of the shows that will ring in 2022.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC)
The most popular of the New Year’s Eve shows begins at 8 p.m. ET. This is the 18thth Subsequently, Seacrest was the master of ceremonies and this year’s event will be based out of Times Square, Disneyland, Los Angeles and New Orleans. It will be broadcast wirelessly, but if you’re not near a TV you can catch coverage on the network’s website, ABC.go.com. However, you need a cable subscription to watch on this platform.
Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party (NBC)
Miley Cyrus and her godmother (yes, really) Dolly Parton will be in charge of NBC. This is the second year in a row that Cyrus has overseen hosting duties. It begins at 10:30pm ET with a series of musical and other guests. You can watch either over the air or, if you have a cable/satellite subscription, on the NBC website, NBC.com/live, or the Peacock app.
New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash (CBS)
CBS decides to kick off the new year for the second straight year with this country music themed show. This celebration will air from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET and will include performances by the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town and Zac Brown Band. Free viewing options include the CBS website and Paramount+.
New Year’s Eve with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (CNN)
The cable network is pairing its most well-known anchor with the Bravo host for the sixth straight year, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. A live stream will be available on the CNN.com home page and on mobile devices via CNN’s iOS and Android apps. It can also be viewed on CNNgo and the CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and Android TV. The show will be broadcast from Times Square.
Where can I stream the Ball Drop online for free without a cable subscription?
peacock
NBC’s streaming service gives you access to multiple games, including all Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial followed by a $5 or $10 monthly fee. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Outstanding+
CBS’s streaming service gives you access to games that air on that network. You can get a week-long free trial followed by a monthly fee of $5 or $10.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13.99 a month for all three together (or $19.99 a month with no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the package bumps the price up to $70 per month ($76 without ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial version of this service is also no longer offered. It will cost you $70 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly fees of $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling recently increased its prices. The lower “Orange” plan is now $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan brings the cost up to $55 per month. (An increase of $5 per month.) The seven-day free trial is gone along with the price increase, but the cord-cutting service is offering a 50% discount off the first month’s bill.
DirectTV stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow, and AT&T TV, this often-rebranded streaming service costs $70 a month and up after the free trial option.
Are there webcams that I can use to watch the ball fall online for free?
In the streaming era, there will likely be many Times Square revelers streaming the Ball Drop, but the best to watch is hosted by the Times Square official website. You can access it in different ways.
TimesSquareNYC.org
NewYearseve.nyc
TimesSquareBall.net
You can also Facebook and watch via social media in Times Square Twitter Pages.
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