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The second day of the Democratic National Convention is underway. Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on day one, and President Joe Biden “made the case” for her and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during one of the biggest speeches of his political career.
The four-day 2024 DNC will be covered live by ABC, CBS News, CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, NewsNation, PBS, and other local and national cable channels. Those who want to stream the convention on TV for free can do so with a trial to select live TV streaming services, including DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling.
At a Glance: How to Stream the DNC Online
- When: Aug. 19-22
- Channels: ABC, CBS News, CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, NewsNation, PBS
- Stream online: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Max (CNN only), Paramount+ (CBS only) Peacock (NBC only), Prime Video, Sling
The 2024 DNC has steadily rolled out stars in Washington and Hollywood since kicking off on Monday, Aug. 19 in Chicago. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, UAW President Shawn Fain and actor Tony Goldwyn were among those who took the stage on Monday. After Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell performed on night one, Patti LaBelle and Common headlined the second evening of the DNC. See the latest schedule of performers and events here.
The co-chairs for this year’s convention are Minnesota Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar. Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling are among the Hollywood stars who have been tapped as hosts for the 2024 DNC, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus will host a daytime panel on the third day of the convention highlighting U.S. women governors.
Keep reading to find out more about the 2024 DNC, including how to stream online with and without a traditional cable subscription.
When and Where Is the 2024 DNC Taking Place?
Speeches and main programming for the 2024 Democratic National Convention will take place at the United Center in Chicago from Monday, Aug. 19, to Thursday, Aug. 22. Per the DNC, each day will feature a theme: “For the People,” “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” “A Fight for Our Freedoms” and “For Our Future.”
Morning press briefings take place daily at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET, and most news coverage of the main programming begins at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET. See the full schedule at Demconvention.com.
Only delegates, volunteers and other invited guests can attend the 2024 DNC.
Who Is Speaking at the 2024 DNC?
In addition to Biden, Harris and Walz, the 2024 DNC speakers are expected to include Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Jason Carter (grandson of President Jimmy Carter). More are expected to be announced; check the Democratic National Convention’s website for more.
2024 DNC: Will Beyoncé and Taylor Swift Be Among Performers?
There’s much speculation over whether Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will publically endorse Kamala Harris for president, and whether either will perform at the 2024 DNC. Outside of the convention, there are over 100 events taking place in Chicago with headliners such as John Legend, Billy Porter, Jon Stewart and Octavia Spencer.
When Will Kamala Harris Accept the Nomination?
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president on Aug. 22 during the main programming, which starts at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.
How to Watch the DNC Online Without Cable
Live TV streaming services including DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling offer access to cable news networks that are covering the 2024 Democratic National Convention, including ABC, CBS News, CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, NewsNation, PBS and others. Max subscribers can stream CNN live, Peacock supports live streaming of NBC with its Premium Plus package and the Paramount+ with Showtime package offers live access to CBS online.
Traditional and streaming cable subscribers can also watch online on most national cable outlets’ websites or apps (such as ABC.com, CBS.com, MSNBC.com and NBC.com) by logging in with their TV provider credentials, including DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Verizon, Xfinity and others.
The DNC will also livestream select events on its social media channels, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Twitch and Prime Video.
Keep reading below for more ways to stream the 2024 DNC online, including for free.
best streaming service overall
DirecTV Stream
Packages from $69.99 per month
Watch live broadcasts of the DNC 2024 on ABC, CNN, CSPAN, MSNBC, NBC and other cable news networks online for free with a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream, which starts at $69.99 per month for the entry-level Entertainment package. The live TV streamings service also offers on-demand content and more than 75 other channels, including the Disney Channel, E!, MTV, Nickelodeon and others. Other plans offer over 105-150 channels, with prices ranging from $89.99 to $159.99 per month.
For a limited time, new subscribers can also save up to $240; learn more here.
Best Value
Fubo
Packages from $79.99 per month
Watch ABC, CBS, CNN, CSPAN, Fox, MSNBC and NBC and over 170 more channels with a subscription to Fubo, which starts at $79.99 per month for the Pro package. You can record over 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies and games (including Monday, Thursday and Sunday night football) and watch later on your smartphone, tablet or TV.
Other plans include the Elite package (255 channels for $89.99 monthly) and the Premier tier that comes with 264 channels, NFL RedZone, Showtime and 4K quality for $99.99 monthly. The online TV streaming service offers a seven-day trial for new subscribers, so you can technically watch the the 2024 Democratic National Convention online for free during that period.
best live tv streaming bundle
Hulu + Live TV
Packages from $76.99 per month
Watch coverage of the 2024 DNC on Hulu + Live TV ($76.99 and up monthly), which is offering a three-day free trial and comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+. Available with or without ads, subscriptions let you stream ABC, CBS, CSPAN, CNN, Fox News, NBC, MSNBC and 90 other major cable news, entertainment and sports channels. You’ll also get access to live streaming and events on ESPN+, like UFC Fight Night, PGA golf, soccer and baseball. Get even more sports with the Sports Add-On package ($9.99 per month) that includes NFL RedZone, Tennis Channel, MAVTV, TVG and more.
best for streaming nbc
Peacock
Packages from $5.99 per month
As the streaming home of NBC, you can watch the 2024 DNC online without cable with a subscription to Peacock‘s ad-free Premium Plus package. The plan is $11.99 per month ($119.99 per year) and includes streaming access to your local NBC channel, more than 80,000 hours of movies and TV shows and the option to download and watch select titles offline.
Best for Prime Members
Prime Video
Prime Video will stream all four nights of the Democratic National Convention from 3:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET. A membership to Amazon Prime ($14.99 per month or $139 annually) or a subscription to the standalone Prime Video streaming service ($8.99 per month) is required.
Most affordable streaming service
Sling
Packages on sale from $22.50 per month
Sling‘s Blue plan (reg. $45 per month) and combined Orange & Blue package (reg. $60 monthly) let you watch the 2024 Democratic National Convention coverage on Fox News, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and more than 40 other channels, and you can record up to 50 hours of content and stream on up to three devices. Sling offers DVR so you can record shows to watch offline later.
The streamer is currently offering new subscribers up to half off their first month, bringing the price down to $20-$30 for the individual Orange and Blue packages ($40-$45 monthly) or $30 for the combined Orange & Blue plan (reg. $60 per month). Note that you’ll need to connect an HD antenna and an AirTV device if you want to watch local channels on your Sling service; get more details here.
