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How to watch the 2021 Emmys

The Emmys are airing tonight! Here's what you need to know...

Jennifer Bisset Former Senior Editor / Culture
Jennifer Bisset was a senior editor for CNET. She covered film and TV news and reviews. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. She won Best New Journalist in 2019 at the Australian IT Journalism Awards.
Expertise Film and TV Credentials
  • Best New Journalist 2019 Australian IT Journalism Awards
Jennifer Bisset
3 min read
emmys

The Emmys are almost here!

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The time has finally come to celebrate the best of television. The 2021 Primetime Emmys awards ceremony takes place in Los Angeles this evening. Shows such as slow-burning crime drama Mare of Easttown and electrifying statement piece I May Destroy You are all in the chase for golden statues.

The Emmys covers a ton of awards. Last weekend, the Creative Emmys saw those shows and many more pick up honors for outstanding artistic and technical achievements. At the end of June, the Daytime Emmy Awards recognized excellence in American daytime television programming.

Below, you'll find everything you need to know to tune in to the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, including cable-free options.

Read more: Emmys 2021 results: The full list of winners

When do the Emmys start?

The 2021 Emmys take place on Sunday, Sept 19. at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET). With live events returning, you can expect "a limited audience of nominees and their guests" at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, according to a press release.

How to watch the Emmys for free

Watching live for free is pretty easy to do, as long as you have an over-the-air antenna hooked up to your TV and get your local CBS station. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount Plus.

How to watch the Emmys without cable

Cable TV cord cutters have a number of options for watching the ceremony via a live TV streaming service (with the notable exception of Sling TV), detailed below.

YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes CBS. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.

FuboTV costs $65 a month for its Family plan and includes CBS. Click here to see which local channels you get.

Paramount Plus, the replacement for CBS All Access, costs $10 per month and will let you watch the ceremony being broadcast on your local CBS station, if you live in one of the 206 markets where the service offers live TV.

Hulu Plus Live TV costs $65 a month and includes CBS. Click the "View channels in your area" link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.

AT&T TV's basic, $70-a-month Entertainment package includes CBS. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live. You can read more on AT&T's merger of its AT&T TV and TV Now services here

Are there any free trials?

All the live TV streaming services above, with the exception of AT&T TV, offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Note: AT&T TV doesn't advertise a free trial but the company says that if you cancel within 14 days you won't be charged.

For deep-dive details, here's our massive streaming services guide.

Who's hosting?

In July, it was announced that Cedric the Entertainer will be... entertaining us as this year's host.

The full list of nominations

Nominees for the Primetime Emmy awards were announced on Tuesday, July 13 at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET). See the list here. Or you can see the master list of nominations, including Creative Arts Emmys, here.


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