Streaming Guide
How to Watch ‘American Idol’ Online Without Cable
Here's where you can tune into Katy Perry's last season as a judge on the hit singing competition show
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Quick Answer: Fans can watch American Idol online for free with a trial to DirecTV Stream or fuboTV.
It’s time to find your next American Idol. Premiering tonight on ABC and streaming online, the hit singing competition has returned for Season 22, with Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry back as judges and Ryan Seacrest once again serving as the host.
Ahead of the American Idol premiere, Perry dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the next chapter of Idol, revealing that she’d be leaving the show after seven seasons. “Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio,” Perry said during the interview. “It’s really exciting. It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans. So I think this will probably be my last season for Idol.”
Later in the interview, the star told Kimmel that American Idol “connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat.”
Here’s how to catch Perry’s final season as a judge on the show, plus where to livestream American Idol‘s season premiere for free.
How to Watch American Idol Online Without Cable
Don’t have cable? Here’s how to watch the Season 22 premiere online:
Stream American Idol on DirecTV Stream
Fans who want to watch the season premiere of American Idol can livestream it for free with a DirecTV Stream free trial. The streaming services’s Entertainment package carries local channels like ABC and comes with a five-day free trial. After the trial ends, the subscription starts at $79.99 a month.
Stream American Idol on fuboTV
The good news: You can stream American Idol for free with a seven-day trial over at Fubo. The not-free news: You’re going to want to keep it because it makes watching weekly episodes without cable a breeze. The fuboTV Pro plan carries local channels like ABC, and it costs $79.99 a month following your trial period.
Stream American Idol on Sling
Sling also carries ABC with its Blue package, making it a go-to for streaming American Idol online if you’ve cut the cord. The Sling Blue subscription costs $22.50 a month for your first month of streaming, then increases to the standard monthly rate of $45.
Stream American Idol on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu subscribers can watch the American Idol episodes the day after they air on ABC with a base subscription. Hulu offers a 30-day free trial for both its ad-supported and ad-free packages, which cost $5.99 a month and $11.99 a month after their trials, respectively. But if you want to watch American Idol live, you can snag a Hulu + Live TV subscription to stream episodes when they’re broadcast on ABC. A subscription starts at $76.99 a month for the ad-supported plan, and includes Disney+ and ESPN+.
What Time Is American Idol on TV?
The new season of American Idol premieres on ABC at 8/7 C on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Don’t want to test out a new streaming service? You can also snag a digital HD antenna to tune into ABC without paying for pricey cable, like our pick below.
$19.99 $26.99 26% off
Is American Idol on Hulu?
Yes, American Idol‘s season premiere will air on Hulu the day following their on-air date. Hulu + Live TV subscribers, however, can livestream new American Idol episodes the day they air.
How to Watch American Idol for Free
The best way to watch the season premiere of American Idol for free is with a trial to DirecTV Stream or fuboTV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial across all of its package options, while Fubo currently offers a one-week free trial for new customers.