Indulge me for a moment—I love watching the Times Square Ball Drop every New Year’s Eve.
Before you assume I’ve gone completely mad, let me clarify that you won’t catch this New Yorker competing for an unobstructed view of the Manhattan madness. Not in this lifetime, anyway—and certainly not when over a million people are jostling for a glimpse of the 11,875-pound geodesic sphere that, dare I say it, seems more petite in person. I learned my lesson the first time I ventured into the chaos of Times Square on New Year’s Eve—and I vowed never to do so again. Unless, of course, your idea of fun means standing outside for hours in the heart of New York City. (Seriously, revelers start gathering at 3 p.m.)
But if you’re like me (with a teeny tiny bladder and a strong aversion to frostbite), fear not. I’ve since found easier ways to revel in the symbolism of the glittering orb heralding a new year of dreams and growth—whether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, heading to an indoor viewing area, or cocooned in the comfort of your bed. Because when it comes to celebrating the countdown, there’s no need to sacrifice your style, sanity, or bladder.
Here’s how to watch the ball drop from anywhere but Times Square—you can thank me later.
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How to watch on TV
Ryan Seacrest is back for the 19th time as the New York host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, but this year, he’ll be joined by singer and co-host Rita Ora. Television personality Jeannie Mai will also be co-hosting, all the way from Los Angeles. Expect nearly six hours of musical performances, airing until 2 a.m. EST. The lineup? Janelle Monáe, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones, Green Day, and more. In Puerto Rico, superstar Dayanara Torres will be co-hosting the show’s Spanish language countdown, at Puerto Rico Convention Center at DISTRITO T-Mobile.
You can catch the show on ABC at 8 p.m. EST, or ABC Live and the ABC app on most mobile devices.
Photo: Dick Clark Productions
Or, tune in to CNN at 8 p.m. EST, and for those on the go, the show also streams on CNN Max, the CNNgo app, and CNN.com. Plus, Sara Sidner and Cari Champion will take over the festivities at 12:30 a.m. EST to countdown the central time zone, live from Austin, Texas.
Country music artist Elle King and Entertainment Tonight’s Rachel Smith are teaming up to host this New Year’s Eve special, airing on CBS at 7:30 p.m. EST. Don’t have cable? No problem—catch it on Paramount with your Paramount+ with Showtime subscription.
How to watch online
Plans start at $76.99 a month, offering over 90 channels, including ABC, CBS, and NBC.
Stream the ball drop, plus performances on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on Fubo. After a one-day free trial, subscriptions start at $54.99 a month for your first month, then $74.99 a month.
Watch the NYE 2024 Webcast for free
Times Square will also host its own livestream on TimesSquareNYC.org, commencing at 6 p.m. EST. There are two online feeds available: a closed caption and an open caption with American Sign Language interpretations. You can also catch the live stream at NewYearsEve.nyc and TimesSquareBall.net, or just follow along on social media for the major updates.