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The best deals for watching the Emmys live without cable:
From returning favorites like Severance and Andor to new gems The Pitt and The Studio, 2025 has been another excellent year for TV. And those shows are just the tip of the iceberg.
Severance is Mashable’s number one show of the year (so far) and the Television Academy apparently agrees. It racked up the most Emmy nominations of any show this year with more than two dozen. Other shows we loved have also received high praise from the Academy. Which series will take home the biggest awards at the 2025 Emmys? You’ll have to watch to find out — here’s how you can watch the Emmys live with or without cable in 2025.
When are the 2025 Emmys?
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, and will air live at 8 p.m. ET. This year’s awards will be hosted by Grammy-nominated comedian Nate Bargatze. For those with cable or over-the-air TV, you can tune your TV to your local CBS station, watch online via CBS.com, or log into the CBS app with your pay TV service provider.
No cable access? No worries; we’ve rounded up the best ways to watch the Emmys live without cable below.
Who are this year’s Emmy nominees?
While FX shows dominated last year’s Emmys, this year the major awards are Apple TV+’s to lose. Both Severance and The Studio are poised to win big; the former with 27 total nominations and the latter with 23, tying The Bear‘s 2024 record of the most nominations for a comedy series in a single year. Other major contenders include The White Lotus (23 nominations), The Last of Us (16 nominations), Hacks (14 nominations), and The Penguin (24 nominations). See a full list of the 2025 Emmy nominations at the Television Academy website.
How to watch the Emmy Awards live without cable
Credit: CBS
This year, CBS is broadcasting the Emmy Awards live, which means its streaming counterpart, Paramount+, will also simulcast the ceremony. Only Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to stream the awards live; Paramount+ Essential subscribers can only watch the show on demand the day after it airs.
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On the flip side, you can also use a digital TV antenna, a one-time purchase that will unlock all the local networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC — within range. We’ll leave the decision up to you.
If you’re new to Paramount+, you’re in luck. The streaming service is offering a fall promotion through Sept. 18 that saves you money on your plan. We’ve rounded up all the best deals for signing up below.
Best Paramount+ streaming deals
Best overall: 50% off annual Premium subscriptions
New subscribers can sign up for an annual Paramount+ Premium plan for only $59.99 through Sept. 18. That’s half the price of a usual annual plan and the same price as the Essential plan on a regular day. That means you can catch the Emmy Awards live, then enjoy ad-free viewing, the entire Showtime library, the ability to stream new episodes of Big Brother and FBI live as they air, and much more all year long. While you won’t get a free trial, the savings are definitely worth it in the long run. Essential subscriptions are also half price — just $29.99 through Sept. 18 — but you won’t be able to watch the awards live.
Best for students: 50% off monthly Premium subscriptions
Students who want to watch the Emmy Awards can score a Paramount+ Premium subscription for only $6.49 per month (for one year) instead of $12.99 per month. That’s 50% cheaper than a typical subscription, and you can cancel whenever you want. You’ll just have to verify your student status to unlock the deal.
Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Paramount+ Essential with Walmart+
A Walmart+ membership is the gift that keeps on giving. Like Amazon Prime, subscribing comes with many perks beyond free shipping. Walmart+ members can also enjoy Paramount+ Essential for free with their subscription. You won’t be able to watch the Emmy Awards live, but you can watch the broadcast after it airs on your Essential account. New subscribers can also score a 30-day trial to kick things off.
Another option for watching live: Get a digital antenna
For those who live decently close to your local TV station broadcast towers, a digital antenna is the best way to access broadcasts live and for free. These indoor antennas can be placed on your wall and hide behind your TV and offer — at the very least — your local CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC stations. Just be sure to check the distance and range before making a purchase.
The closer you are, the clearer your local broadcasts will come through. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, Ziff Davis) have a few recommendations, including this basic one from Best Buy that retails for just $24.99. It’s reversible to match your decor, multidirectional, and has a range of 50 miles.
