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2025 is almost here, but there are still a few hours left of 2024. CNN's countdown has become one of the most popular ways to ring in the new year, and we'll show you how to watch New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
CNN is offering full-day New Year's Eve coverage, showing celebrations around the world starting at 7 a.m. ET. At 8 p.m., the party truly begins, with the help of longtime CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and Bravo host Andy Cohen. The evening is always chock-full of celebrity guests and memorable musical performances, and this year is no exception. Anticipated guest appearances include 50 Cent, Sting, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, Sasheer Zamata, Ziwe, and many more. Cooper and Cohen will be posted up in Times Square in New York City, offering a great view of the ball drop at midnight, and some of their guests will pop in from other locations.
Whether you're a longtime fan of New Year's Eve Live or you're just looking for a way to watch the ball drop, we'll make sure you can tune into tonight's coverage. Keep reading to learn how to live stream the programming if you don't have cable.
How to watch New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen in the US
New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen airs on CNN. The coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and is slated to go through the ball drop, which takes place at midnight, and wrap up at 12:30 a.m. ET, according to CNN's schedule on most TV guides. CNN will continue coverage at 12:30 a.m. ET, although the official Cooper and Cohen broadcast will be done. If you don't have cable, you can live stream CNN through a few different avenues in the US, including Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Max.
Sling TV costs $46 per month and is one of the more affordable live TV streaming packages out there. New users can get their first month for half-off right now, making it just $23 today. Each Sling base plan carries anywhere from 35 to 40+ live channels, and CNN is included in both options. If you can't decide which plan is right for you, you can check out our Sling Orange vs. Blue guide.
For just the essentials without any extra fluff, Sling TV is the streaming service you're looking for. It's more customizable than other plans, with three options you can choose from, so you pay for only what you need. New members often get a chunky discount on their first month.
DirecTV Stream is a great option if you're looking for a true cable replacement in your live TV streaming service. Subscriptions start at $87 per month and feature at least 90 live channels, including pretty much everything you'd find in a basic cable plan. New users can try out the service free for five days.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Max will also carry New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. The streaming service offers lots of live CNN coverage, although it's not an exact live stream of the network, so coverage might vary for other programming. Subscriptions start at $10 per month, but you can upgrade for ad-free on-demand streaming or 4K options.
Max is a premium service for fans of prestige television, iconic films, and unscripted programs like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and more. The ad-supported tier is $9.99 a month, but you can upgrade to ad-free for $16.99 or view your programming in 4K for $20.99.
How to watch New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen from anywhere
If you're traveling away from the US but still want to keep up with the broadcast like you would at home, you can access some of your usual watch options (like Sling or Max) from abroad with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that enable people to change their virtual location. This means that their electronic devices can access their go-to websites and apps from anywhere.
ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. The app is user-friendly, so beginners don't need to worry about a learning curve, and it comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. Our ExpressVPN review has the full details.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
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. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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