How to stream the final presidential debate

Catch Trump and Biden together one last time even without cable.
By Sasha Lekach  on 
How to stream the final presidential debate

Finally, the end is near: The last U.S. presidential debate will be held Thursday night. This time the candidates' microphones will be muted at certain times, so it should be a quieter, less chaotic 90-minutes compared to the first debate last month.

Unlike last week's dueling town hall events, the final debate before Election Day will be aired live from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. with both former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump together in the same space.

To watch it live online at 9 p.m. ET, you have a lot of options:

Live TV services

The debate will be aired on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, and MSNBC for regular TV viewers. For online viewing, these (paid) services in the U.S. have these channels available:

  • Sling TV: CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News on Sling Blue. Bloomberg, Newsy, and Cheddar on Sling Orange (you can watch ABC News Live on the free tier or add the News Extra combo to either package for HLN and BBC World News, or Fox Business and CNBC) 

  • fuboTV: Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, Cheddar News, Newsy, and Univision

  • Hulu+ Live TV: ABC News Live, CBS, Cheddar Business, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and Telemundo

  • YouTube TV: ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Cheddar, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsy, and Telemundo 

Apps

NBC News' Kristen Welker is moderating the debate so NBC platforms are all over coverage. Peacock, NBC's streaming app, will have the debate streaming on different channels, like NBC News Live.

Most other news apps for iOS and Android devices will have the debate available, but some of you may need a cable login for viewing access:

  • Univision 

  • ABC News

  • CBS News

  • CNN

  • Fox News

  • Reuters TV

  • PBS Video

  • NPR

Streaming platforms

Roku Channel on Roku devices offers streams from ABC News, Newsmax, Yahoo!, and USA Today. Google Chromecast is connected to the YouTube app along with other news apps. Amazon's Fire TV and Stick, Apple TV, as well as Xbox and PlayStation consoles will all have access to apps and news channels that will be showing the debate. 

Social media

Twitter: Follow along with the #Debates2020 official hashtag. The debate will stream on the app.

Facebook: PBS Newshour and ABC News have livestreams on Facebook Live.

Twitch: Both Biden's and Trump's official Twitch pages don't have the debate on the schedule, but you can check back to see if the streams go up.

YouTube and news sites

C-SPAN's YouTube channel is still the best stream for a no-frills viewing experience. Other news channels' YouTube pages like NBC News, Fox Business, PBS Newshour, ABC News, CBS News, and Telemundo in Spanish will show the stream, too.

Newspapers like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and USA Today will have live analysis. Fox News has a debate portal, Democracy 2020 Live, on its website. Bloomberg has a site for debate viewing that comes with analysis and background information.

You don't need a cable log-in to watch on CNN.com’s homepage or on the CNNgo streaming site.

Topics Politics

Mashable Image
Sasha Lekach

Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.


Recommended For You



When is the last day to file taxes?
A person at their computer holding a note that reads "tax time."

40+ of the best outdoor deals during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Solo Stove pizza oven and other outdoor gear in truck bed

More in Entertainment
How to watch 'Lisa Frankenstein' at home: When is it streaming?
Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse in 'Lisa Frankenstein'


How to watch NC State vs. Marquette basketball without cable
DJ Horne #0 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack drives to the basket as Blake Lampman #11 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies defends during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

How to watch Gonzaga vs. Purdue basketball without cable
Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones (55) starts a fast break during the Purdue Boilermakers versus the Utah State Aggies in the second round of the NCAA Division I Championship on March 24, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

How to watch Tennessee vs. Creighton basketball without cable
Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 of the Creighton Bluejays goes to the basket in the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 28
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 28
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 27
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'


NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 28
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!