American Idol Live Stream Options: Watch All the Stars in Making Without Cable

As someone who’s followed American Idol since its groundbreaking debut as a pioneer in singing reality competitions, I’ve witnessed the rise of incredible talents like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood emerging from its winner’s circle. Best of all, I can enjoy watching it without needing a cable subscription.

American Idol appears on ABC through one of its affiliates. So you can watch it through any streaming service that offers ABC affiliates in its plans:

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Over the years the popularity of Idol has varied depending on the season and the contestants that are singing their hearts out. No matter why you watch, if this is one of your weekly obsessions, you should know you don’t need cable to watch it. Instead, it’s incredibly easy to watch American Idol live online without cable.

American Idol airs live on Sunday evenings at 8 pm ET. In order to watch the show, you’ll need access to ABC. If you don’t have cable, you can get ABC using a digital antenna in most areas. Another option is to use a streaming service to watch American Idol live online. While streaming services do not offer ABC nationwide, several services offer local channels in as many areas as possible, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to watch ABC and an American Idol live stream without cable.

How to Watch American Idol Live Without Cable: At a Glance

There are several services that you can use to watch ABC without cable. If you don’t have a digital antenna, many streaming services offer live access to most cities. You can also watch American Idol live through the ABC TV Everywhere app, if ABC live isn’t available in your area through the service you choose. Two great options for ABC streaming are listed here. This will get you started, but if you want to learn even more, keep reading for full details on American Idol live streaming.

Hulu Live is a great choice when it comes to anything local. While over 60 channels are included, Hulu Live is known for offering the most local coverage of any other streaming service. Plans start at $64.99 per month. In addition to live channels, Hulu on-demand is also included. Each package allows you to stream TV Everywhere apps for many of the included channels. You’ll even have your own cloud-based DVR. You can stream American Idol live on Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, mobile devices, and more. You can start streaming Hulu Live with a free 7-day trial.

YouTube TV is another service that offers access to local channels in most parts of the country. Here you get over 70 channels including local channels in most areas. This package is available for $50 per month. As there are no contracts to sign, you’re free to cancel when you want. With YouTube TV you can make user profiles for the family, and you can stream on multiple devices at the same time. Streaming is possible on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, mobile devices, and more. You’ll even have access to your own cloud-based DVR with unlimited space. Try YouTube TV free for 7-days.

Using Streaming Services to Watch American Idol Live Without Cable

There are more ways than ever to watch TV. While cable used to be one of the only options, now you can use streaming services. These services offer a similar lineup with more options, and often for less money. They don’t come with contracts, so you’re free to try new services, and leave the ones behind that aren’t for you. Even better, many of them offer free trials, so you can try them before you pay for them. At the end of the day, having more options allows you to enjoy the shows and networks you love without being forced into a cable contract.

If you decide to try a streaming service, it likely won’t take long for you to see why so many people are making the switch. Here are some of the popular features of streaming that keep people coming back:

• Prices are cheaper
• You’re able to find the same channels in similar packages
• You often have more options to customize your package
• No contracts mean you can cancel when you want
• You can stream from anywhere using Roku, Chromecast, mobile devices, and more
• Most services allow you to stream simultaneously on multiple devices
• Some family features are available with parental controls and more
• Watch TV live, on-demand, or with TV Everywhere apps
• Many services offer cloud-DVRs and other fun features

Even if you’re not sure that streaming is right for you, thanks to available free trials, you can test it our risk-free. If you find it’s not for you, just cancel and you won’t lose anything. Now, let’s find out how you can watch American Idol live online.

Watch American Idol Live using Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV offers 60 of the most popular live, local and nationwide channels for $64.99 per month. This unique package also includes Hulu on-demand. Having an abundance of both live and on-demand TV makes this a great choice for anyone that loves variety. Local channels are available in most areas, so no matter where you live, there’s a good chance you’ll have ABC with Hulu Live. Your package also includes a cloud-based DVR. You can stream American Idol on Amazon Fire TV, mobile devices, Roku, Chromecast, computers, and more.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Here are some more highlights:

• 60+ channels
• $64.99 per month
• Hulu on-demand is part of every package
• Local channels can be found in most areas
• You can also watch content with TV Everywhere apps
• A free Hulu Live trial will get you started
• Watch Hulu Live with computers, Roku, Apple TV, mobile devices, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and more
• 50-hours of space comes with the cloud-DVR

Remember, one of the best ways to learn about Hulu Live is to try it for yourself. You can do that by getting setup for the free weeklong Hulu Live trial. You can be signed up in minutes and watching TV. Our Hulu + Live TV review can tell you more.

Watch the American Idol Live Stream on YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers 70+ channels for just $50 per month. Local channels are available in most areas. When it comes to nationwide channels, you can watch AMC, FX, USA, Freeform, TNT, Syfy, BBC America, BET, beIN Sports, and many other channels. You can stream on three devices at the same time on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, computers, Apple TV, mobile devices, and more. A cloud-DVR is included with unlimited space. You can also watch ABC and other networks on TV Everywhere apps.

Here are some highlights on YouTube TV:

• 70+ channels for $50 per month
• No contracts so you can cancel when you want
• Most areas have access to local channels
• An on-demand library is included, and you can use TV Everywhere apps
• The cloud-DVR comes with an unlimited amount of space
• Watch using computers, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, and mobile devices

YouTube TV is a contract-free service. You can start by signing up for the free one-week trial offer. Canceling during the trial will ensure you’re not charged. Otherwise, if you’re happy with your service, you can keep it, and you’ll be billed when your trial ends. Our YouTube TV review has more information.

Watch American Idol Live without Cable on AT&T TV NOW

AT&T TV NOW gives you one more way to watch American Idol live without cable. There are several available packages to choose from. The base package includes 40+ channels for $64.99 per month. None of the available packages come with contracts, so you can cancel any time. If you want more channels, you can add some to your package or you can choose a bigger plan. Many popular channels are included. Some packages even include HBO. You can stream American Idol on Apple TV, Chromecast, computers, mobile devices, and more.

Save on NOW TV

Here’s more on AT&T TV NOW:

• Choose from several plans starting with 40+ channels at $64.99/month
• HBO is included with the basic plan
• Add more channels for a fee
• Most cities receive access to local channels
• A cloud-DVR is available if you want to save shows for later
• TV Everywhere apps are compatible for many networks
• Watch on Apple TV, computers, Amazon Fire TV, iOS/Android apps, etc.

If you’re new to AT&T TV NOW, you’ll start with a free weeklong trial. You can use this trial to figure out if one of the various AT&T TV NOW plans are right for you. You’ll find more details about the service and available channels in our AT&T TV NOW review.

Wrapping Up

Any of these services will be a great way to watch American Idol live without cable. You can have your service set up in minutes. You’ll just choose the service you want, answer some questions, and then it’s time to start streaming. Thanks to free trials and a lack of contracts, you’ll be able to try as many services as you need to, in order to find the right one for you. No matter which service you end up choosing, you’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite shows for less than you would with cable.

If you have any questions about how to watch American Idol live online without cable, you can let us know in the comments.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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