Which On-Demand Streaming Services Offer Coverage of Tonight’s Presidential Debate?
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will share a stage on Tuesday evening, and numerous subscription video streamers will offer coverage.
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face each other for the first time on a debate stage starting at 9 p.m. ET. ABC will offer coverage of the debate, which will also be simulcast on CBS, Fox and NBC.
But what about voters who don’t have access to broadcast channels because they don’t have an over-the-air (OTA) antenna or a pay-TV subscription that carries them? No need to worry, because there are several subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services that will carry live coverage, and some of them even offer free trials.
Which SVOD Services Will Have the Harris-Trump Debate?
Disney+
Disney+ might not seem like the most likely candidate to host tonight’s presidential debate, but ABC is also owned by Disney, which has decided to distribute its debate coverage as widely as possible. Disney+ has made concerted efforts to widen the scope of content offered in recent months, adding on-demand titles from Hulu for customers who subscribe to both services, as well as a selection of live streaming channels including an ABC News channel.
Does Disney+ Offer a Free Trial?: No.
Price to Stream Presidential Debate on Disney+: Starts at $7.99.
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”
Hulu
Much like Disney+, Hulu is controlled by Disney at the corporate level, so it too will offer coverage of the presidential debate. Viewers on each Hulu plan will be able to stream the debate live, but the difference between Hulu and Disney+ is that the former service will allow customers to watch for free since it comes with a 30-day free trial when you subscribe to Hulu outside of the Disney Bundle.
Does Hulu Offer a Free Trial?: Yes, 30 days.
Price to Stream Presidential Debate on Hulu: $0 for trial subscribers, or $7.99 per month and up.
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Max
Max is offering live coverage of the debate through its CNN Max hub, which is available to both ad-supported and ad-free subscribers. If you want analysis of the debate from CNN’s team of political reporters such as Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer, and others, this is a great way to get it without having to pay for the expense of a live TV streaming subscription. Max recently restored its seven-day free trial offer for customers who subscribe to the service through Prime Video.
Does Max Offer a Free Trial?: Yes, but only for Prime Video customers.
Price to Stream Presidential Debate on Max: $9.99 per month and up.
Max
Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library, along with exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Thanks to the B/R Sports add-on, users can watch NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
Paramount+
Paramount+ will offer debate coverage on both of its tiers; ad-supported Paramount+ Essential, as well as Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, which gives viewers access to a livestream of their local CBS station 24 hours a day. Customers normally get a seven-day free trial if they’ve never subscribed to Paramount+ before, and for a limited time new customers can sign up using promo code FALL50 can enjoy 50% off an annual subscription to either Paramount+ plan.
Does Paramount+ Offer a Free Trial?: Yes, seven days
Price to Stream Presidential Debate on Paramount+: $7.99 per month and up.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.
Peacock
Peacock will also provide customers coverage of the debate on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans. Much like Paramount+, subscribers on Peacock’s ad-free Premium Plus tier can opt to watch via a livestream of their local NBC station if they wish. Peacock is not offering any special discounts at this time, but Xfinity TV or internet subscribers can get the streamer in a bundle with Netflix and Apple TV+ starting at just $15 per month if they want more value for their subscription dollars.
Does Peacock Offer a Free Trial?: No
Price to Stream Presidential Debate on Peacock: $7.99 per month and up.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” and “The Office,” as well as original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports including NFL, MLB, WWE, Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open, College Football and Basketball, and PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.