It's time to pull out the noisemakers and confetti, because 2025 is almost here!
To celebrate the end of 2024, there are plenty of ways to ring in the new year. You can host a New Year's Eve party or gather around and enjoy watching a New Year's Eve movie, like Happy New Year, Charlie Brown. But let's be honest — we feel there is no better activity than counting down with the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.
Although the ball of crystal is actually a year-round attraction in New York City, the spectacle serves its most important purpose on December 31. The almost 12,000-pound sphere is raised up into the air at 6 p.m. ET, with over over a million people bracing for it to come down and initiate a brand-new year. What's more, Times Square’s official website reports the New Year's Eve ball drop has been an end-of-year tradition for over a century. And if that wasn't enough to entice you, the night is filled with broadcasts, shows and special performances from nearly every TV network.
So, if you can't watch the ball drop live in NYC this year or don't want to stand in the large crowds and cold (we get it, same here!), you'll definitely want to know how to see the holiday custom unfold onscreen. The good news is, there are many different ways to watch the ball drop and other NYE shows online if you don't have access to TV.
How to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop on TV:
If you'd like to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop on television, look to these programs:
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025: This ball drop broadcast has been around since 1973, and it now features Ryan Seacrest, who replaced icon Dick Clark as host after the latter's death. This year, Ryan will be joined by musician Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers in New York, while Blake Shelton will perform in Las Vegas and Alanis Morissette and Reneé Rapp will be part of the festivities in Hollywood. The show is set to air on December 31, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, and can also be viewed on ABC Live on most devices.
- New Year's Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen: Best friends Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen team up once again to help count down the seconds until 2025 officially begins. When it airs at 8 p.m. ET on CNN, you can watch via CNN Live or on the CNN app.
- New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash: Country superstar Keith Urban will host this year's celebration alongside Rachel Smith, and the program will air starting at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. What's more, singers Jelly Roll, Kane Brown and others will join the special throughout the night from the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville. You can also stream the show on Paramount+, but only those who are Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live.
How to stream the 2025 New Year's Eve Times Square ball drop online for free:
For those who don't have access to a TV, do not worry. You can watch a commercial-free webcast of the 2024 Times Square NYE ball drop on the Times Square official website beginning at 6 p.m. ET. If you happen to be on-the-go, you can mobile stream the New Year's Eve ball drop at TimesSquareNYC.org and TimesSquareBall.net.
Alternatively, the major TV event will also be available on social media on Facebook and on X (formerly Twitter).
Are there other ways to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop without cable?
Of course! You can also watch the ball drop on Hulu + Live TV ($82.99 per month if you've already got Hulu), YouTube TV ($82.99 per month), or FuboTV ($79.99 per month), to name a few subscription services.
Whatever you do, be sure to get started with your setup early so you don't miss the final countdown to 2025.
Juliana is a writer, editor and SEO strategist with over six years' of experience on the editorial staffs of publications including Reader's Digest, Best Life and Good Housekeeping. She covers everything from holiday and home to travel and food, and lives in New York City, where she can often be found at hot yoga or raiding the candy aisle at CVS.
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
