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Arts & EntertainmentEmmy Awards

How to watch the Emmys for free—and without cable

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 19, 2021, 2:00 PM ET

British royalty, corrupt superheroes, and interstellar bounty hunters are set to duke it out today as the Emmys continues its evolution.

Seven of the eight shows nominated for outstanding drama series are from streaming services, including Amazon’s The Boys, Netflix’s The Crown and Disney+’s The Mandalorian. That’s a big shift from five years ago, when broadcast channels ruled the ceremony.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will honor 2021’s television’s best shows on Sept. 19, but the impact of the pandemic will still be center stage. Though it won’t be as subdued a show as last year, this year’s Emmy Awards will still lack the pomp of previous years, with a severely reduced red carpet and fewer attendees.

The 2021 Emmys do mark a new beginning, though. The ceremony is the unofficial start to the fall television season, meaning a rush of new shows will come in the next few weeks, many of which are already vying for nominations at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Have questions about the 2021 Emmy awards? We’ve got answers.

When are the Emmy awards taking place?

The 2021 Primetime Emmys will be held on Sunday Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. True film buffs can watch or record the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony (which was held on Sept. 12) on Sept 19 on FXX at 8 p.m. ET.

Where can I watch the 2021 Emmy awards?

CBS is the home to this year’s Emmy Awards ceremony.

Can I watch the Emmy awards online?

If you’re not near a TV Sunday night, you still have several options to catch the festivities:

Paramount+

CBS’s streaming service will give you access to television’s biggest night. You can get a one-month free trial, followed by a $6 monthly charge.

Hulu with Live TV

You can try the service free for a week. Once that’s up, you’ll pay $65 per month.

YouTubeTV

After a two-week trial, expect monthly charges of $65.

AT&T TV

Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TVNow, AT&T’s streaming service will run you $70 per month and up. There is no longer a free trial option.

Fubo TV

While it’s best known for its sports-focused feature, this cord cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets, meaning you can catch the Emmy Awards. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $65-$80, depending on the channels you choose.

Who is hosting the 2021 Emmy awards?

Cedric the Entertainer will host the event, taking over for Jimmy Kimmel, who oversaw the 2020 ceremonies. In 2019, the Emmy’s decided to forego a host for the fourth time in their history.

When does red carpet coverage for the 2021 Emmy awards begin?

Hoping to see who’s wearing what? E!’s Live From the Red Carpet will start airing at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. This year’s red carpet will be limited, though, as a cautious nod to the ongoing pandemic. There was no red carpet for the 2021 Creative Arts Emmys. Only about a dozen media outlets are being allowed on the carpet.

What are the shows to watch out for during the Emmy awards?

The Mandalorian and The Crown tied for the most nominations this year, receiving 24 each. Disney’s WandaVision was a close second, with 23 noms. And Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso earned 20 nominations.

Only two network shows—NBC’s This is Us and ABC’s black-ish—received nominations in the top categories of drama, comedy, and limited series. If The Crown takes home top drama series, it will be the first time Netflix has claimed that prize.

Which network got the most 2021 Emmy award nominations?

HBO and HBO Max topped this year’s list with 130 nominations. Netflix was close behind with 129. And Disney+ earned 71. If you count nominations for ABC and Hulu, which Disney owns, Disney had a total of 146.

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About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

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