On Saturday, July 4, the United States of America will turn 250 years old. No matter how you feel about the current state of the country’s politics, it’s time to celebrate with friends and family and reflect on the nation’s rich history, as well as the promise of its future. Viewers will be able to watch various America 250 celebrations on top broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS, as well as cable news networks such as CNN and Fox News. Find out which content you can watch on which channel below, and stream it all with a subscription to YouTube TV.

How to watch America 250 celebrations

• When: Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• TV: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, CNN, Fox News.
• Stream: Watch with a free trial of YouTube TV.
• From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.

Everything you need to know about America 250 celebrations

How are top broadcast and cable channels celebrating America 250?

ABC

Disney is presenting a 24-hour, multiplatform broadcast on various channels and streaming services, including ABC, Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, National Geographic, Freeform, FX, and the ABC News Live free streaming channel.

ABC properties like “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight” will be packed with patriotic content, and viewers will be taken to all corners of the country to meet with various heroes who have helped to make it great. And the fun wraps on July 4 at 8 p.m., when the feed switches to “Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash” hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featuring performances from The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, John Crist, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime and Tim McGraw before a major fireworks display.

CBS

CBS will present “The Great American Block Party 250,” a three-hour primetime special hosted by Tony Dokoupil and Nischelle Turner. The special begins on Saturday, July 4 at 8 p.m. ET, and will stream on Paramount+ as well as the CBS News 24/7 free channel. Live performances by the Zac Brown Band, Jon Batiste, the Goo Goo Dolls, and more will be shown, and the special will include coverage from Charleston, Los Angeles, New York, and other locales across the country.

Fox and Fox News

Much like Disney, Fox platforms will provide extensive coverage to celebrate America 250. The company will leverage the Fox broadcast channel, as well as Fox News, Fox Business Network, and other platforms to party with Americans in style. And on the flagship Fox network, viewers will be able to see a special Fourth of July presentation of “Baseball Night in America,” with a regional primetime twin-billing featuring either the New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves, or the St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Chicago Cubs.

NBC

On July 4, Savannah Guthrie and Greg Melvin will anchor six hours of coverage from Governors Island from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. to cover the Sail4th 250 event on NBC and the NBC News Now free streaming channel. “NBC Nightly News” coverage will pick up at 6:30 p.m. ET from the Washington Monument, with coverage expected to follow fireworks displays from across the nation.

PBS

Alfonso Ribiero is hosting “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS stations around the country. Broadcasting live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building, it will feature an all-star lineup of performers like Chicago, Joe Mantegna, Trace Adkins, Patti LaBelle, Kool & The Gang, Carly Pearce, Alan Jackson, and more. The special premieres live on Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET, and will also stream live on YouTube.

CNN

CNN is hosting a large selection of programming as part of its “The Fourth in America: Celebrating 250” event. Check out which other content you can see on the channel over the July 4 weekend in the schedule. Throughout the day on Saturday, CNN anchors and correspondents stationed across the country will offer live look-ins for various activities and celebrations.

CNN’s Fourth in America: Celebrating 250 will also include musical performances by a wide range of major artists, including Charlie Puth and Josh Groban from Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida; Kane Brown from Cadott, Wisconsin; Goo Goo Dolls from The Venetian Resort Las Vegas; Maren Morris from the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas, Rod Stewart from Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado; Lil Wayne, AJR, Kool & the Gang, and Chaka Khan from BottleRock in Napa Valley, California.

Coverage of fireworks displays in cities around the country will be shown on the channel, including Boston, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Diego, Houston, St. Louis, Seward, Alaska, and Kauai, Hawaii.

Why do we recommend watching America 250 celebrations on YouTube TV?

YouTube TV offers all the channels that you’ll want for watching America 250 celebrations, no matter which network you prefer to watch with. It carries local broadcast channels in nearly all American markets, and also offers CNN, and Fox News in its core channel package.

This plan normally costs $83 per month, but for a limited time, new customers can watch for just $68 per month for their first three months of service. That’s $15 off per month and unlocks a package of 100+ channels, including major sports channels, entertainment networks, and more.

Additionally, YouTube TV is currently advertising a 21-day free trial for brand-new subscribers. So, if you’re a new customer, not only can you get a great deal on YouTube TV for your first three months of service, you can also enjoy a free trial of three weeks with which you can watch America 250 celebrations, the U.S. Men’s National Team in their next World Cup match, and more.

Free Trial

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YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.

…

Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. YouTube TV also offers a smaller sports plan, allowing subscribers access to 30+ sports-oriented channels, including local networks in select markets.

YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the trial length may vary by promotion.

With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.

Free Trial

$82.99+ / month

tv.youtube.com

New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.

Can you watch America 250 celebration programming for free?

There are several streamers that offer free trials and also carry the channels that will provide America 250 content.

DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial to new subscribers. It carries ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in its MySports and MyNews Genre Packs, and the latter plan also carries top cable news networks. DIRECTV’s Signature plans also carry local channels, including PBS, and start at $90 per month for the ENTERTAINMENT package.

Fubo has a free trial that can last between one and seven days, depending on numerous factors such as what time of month you subscribe. No Fubo plan offers CNN or PBS, but ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as Fox News, are available with its various packages.

Hulu + Live TV comes with a three-day free trial for new subscribers. Once the trial ends, Hulu + Live TV’s channel package with the Disney Bundle included costs $90 per month.

What are all the services you can use to watch America 250 celebrations?

DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV can all be used to stream America 250 festivities on cable and broadcast channels. Sling TV is a viable option, but in the broadcast channel category, it only carries ABC, Fox, and NBC, and only in select markets. YouTube TV is our favorite choice because it carries all major broadcast and cable news channels in its core plan.

See the Coast Guard ship Eagle prepare for America 250 celebrations

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