It’s almost time to ring in the new year!
Every Dec. 31, roughly 1 million people gather in New York City to witness the ball — an 11,875-pound sphere illuminated by 32,256 LEDs — descend the flagpole atop One Times Square. Meanwhile, over 1 billion more people tune in on TV to watch the symbolic welcoming of the new year.
The ball drop is certainly the most highly-anticipated moment of New Year’s Eve, but in the hours leading up to the main event, viewers can also catch musical performances by their favorite artists on long-running TV programs such as Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Broadcasting live from N.Y.C., Ryan Seacrest will host several performers, including Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers, and down south, audiences can expect to see Jelly Roll and Kane Brown at New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.
No matter what special you choose to watch leading up to midnight, you won’t want to miss the iconic ball drop when the clock strikes 12 a.m. Read on for how to watch and stream the 2025 New Year’s Eve ball drop for free.
When was the first New Year’s Eve ball drop?
The first New Year’s Eve ball drop took place in 1907, according to the official Times Square website. Built by Jacob Starr, a young immigrant metalworker, the inaugural sphere was made of iron and wood and adorned with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
There has been a ball drop every year since 1907 except for 1942 and 1943, due to World War II. Crowds still gathered in N.Y.C. during those years but in lieu of a ball drop, attendees participated in a minute of silence.
The New Year’s Eve ball has been redesigned many times over the past 100-plus years. The latest version, a six-ton geodesic sphere, was designed in 2008. The most recent renovation included weatherproofing so that the ball can be permanently displayed in Times Square year-round.
What New Year’s Eve specials can I stream?
There are several New Year’s Eve TV specials scheduled for the anticipated countdown to 2025.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest has been around since 1973. Seacrest, who will be joined this year by Rita Ora, took over hosting duties following Dick Clark’s decline in health in the early 2000s. The show will feature performances by Lenny Kravitz and Teddy Swims and is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It can also be streamed on ABC Live.
CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen is also back for its eighth year. Viewers can expect lots of comical commentary from the two best friends, as well as appearances by Sting, Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain. The show will air at 8 p.m. ET on CNN and stream on CNN Live and Max.
Country superstar Keith Urban will host this year’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash alongside TV personality Rachel Smith. Headlining performances include Shaboozey and Jelly Roll. The show will air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
What time is the New Year’s Eve ball drop?
The New Year’s Eve ball will start its 60-second descent down the flagpole atop One Times Square at exactly 11:59 p.m. ET.
Where can I watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop for free?
There are several ways to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop for free. The Times Square official website offers commercial-free coverage of the ball drop and the festivities leading up to the main event starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The ball drop will also be streamed on Times Square’s Facebook and X accounts.
Those with a subscription to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo can also watch the ball drop on any of those streaming platforms.
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