How to watch the 2025 Emmy Awards live, including free options
The invention of television disrupted the entertainment industry, although not everyone saw the potential right away. Darryl F. Zanuck, co-founder of 20th Century Fox, famously quipped in 1946: “[Television] won’t be able to hold onto any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.”
Well, Zanuck’s prediction certainly didn’t come true, and that will be evident as Hollywood celebrates all things television at the 77th Emmy Awards tonight (Sunday, September 14).
This glamorous award show will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Let’s take a look at the nominations, who’s hosting and presenting, and more before we dive into how to tune in.
Notable 2025 Emmy nominees
The science fiction thriller Severance from Apple TV+ is going into the night as the front-runner with 27 nominations, including for outstanding drama series.
HBO’s Batman offering, The Penguin, came in second place, receiving 24 nominations.
The two studios tied for third, with both The White Lotus and The Studio receiving 23 nominations. For the full list, click here.
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
The public already knows who one award is going to even before the broadcast. Actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will be formally presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for their many years of activism and advocacy.
Danson helped create the American Oceans Campaign in 1987 to educate the world about the dangers of ocean pollution due to oil spills, sewage, and more. Steenburgen, meanwhile, has worked tirelessly with organizations such as Artists for a Free South Africa, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Heifer International, and No Kid Hungry.
Together, the lovebirds co-founded the nonprofit Angels at Risk to help educate families about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. This will be the first time a married couple has received the award together.
Who is hosting the 2025 Emmy Awards?
It’s up to first-time host Nate Bargatze to guide the audience through the evening. His experience in stand-up comedy and hosting Saturday Night Live twice is sure to come in handy. In addition, his clean comedic style is sure to make the Emmys a family-friendly event.
Who is presenting at the 2025 Emmy Awards?
Helping Bargatze out are a slew of Hollywood heavyweights.
Gilmore Girls fans will be delighted to see Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel back together to celebrate 25 years of the beloved series. Mariska Hargitay’s and Christopher Meloni’s presence will bring joy to Law & Order enthusiasts. Wednesday buffs can look forward to seeing Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jenna Ortega.
Stephen Colbert, Sydney Sweeney, Evan Peters, Colman Domingo, and Eric Dane are also scheduled to appear.
Additionally, the casts from The White Lotus, Paradise, and The Studio will help keep the show entertaining.
What about the pre-show?
If you don’t want to miss a minute of the red-carpet fashion action, you have options.
Live From E!: Countdown to the 2025 Emmys—hosted by Bresha Webb, Melissa Peterman, Christian Siriano, and Zanna Roberts Rassi—begins at 5 p.m. ET. This is followed by Live From E!: 2025 Emmys, hosted by Zuri Hall and Heather McMahan, at 6 p.m. ET.
Entertainment Tonight’s pre-show, hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, starts at 6 p.m. ET. You can catch this on CBS or Paramount+.
How can I stream the Emmy Awards live?
To watch the Emmy Awards telecast, tune into CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The ceremony will last around three hours, unless those acceptance speeches go long.
If you’ve cut the cord, you can livestream the event on Paramount+ if you have a Premium plan. Those with just the Essential level won’t be able to watch the event until the next day.
If Paramount+ isn’t in your streaming arsenal, consider a live-TV streaming service that offers CBS. Those include:
Just be sure to double-check regional differences before committing to another subscription. And remember, you can always watch CBS over the air for free if you have an antenna and good reception.
