How to watch the Republican National Convention for free—and without cable

The 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) was already set to be a chief focus of the nation this week, but Saturday’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump will likely drive even more voters to tune in, which could give the former president his largest audience to date to make the case why he should replace Joe Biden in the White House.

Coverage of the convention will be widespread, but if you’re not a political wonk who wants to watch every hour of the multi-day event, here’s what you need to know.

When is the 2024 Republican National Convention?

The RNC will run from July 15 through July 18.

Which TV channels are airing the 2024 RNC?

Three of the major broadcast networks, along with PBS, are scheduled to carry parts of the convention. Fox, however, will only do so in select markets, as it turns over programming to its local affiliates at 10 p.m. local time. Here’s how things will shake out with the other channels:

CBS – stations will have live coverage starting at 10:00. ET all four days.

NBC – stations will broadcast from 9:30 p.m. ET to 11:00 p.m. on Monday, 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. the first two nights of the convention, and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the final two nights. The network will also carry an interview with President Joe Biden Monday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

ABC – Coverage will run from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. all four days.

PBS – Nightly coverage will run from 8:00 p.m. through 11:00 p.m.

Fox News – Coverage will air during its regular prime-time lineup of shows. A one-hour special will air nightly at 10:00 p.m., hosted by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

CNN – The network plans live coverage starting at 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday. Other coverage and analysis will run from 8:00 p.m. to midnight each night, with Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper anchoring.

MSNBC – A prime-time special will run on Tuesday from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., hosted by Rachel Maddow. On Wednesday and Thursday, the network will air coverage from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

Are any channels airing the entire RNC uninterrupted?

CSPAN is the place for political junkies to catch all the action, with uninterrupted coverage all four days.

When will Donald Trump address the 2024 Republican National Convention?

Trump is not expected to address the conference until Thursday night, though given the events of Saturday, that could be subject to change.

Who else will be speaking at the 2024 RNC?

The list is still growing, in wake of the weekend’s events. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, for instance, was originally expected to skip the RNC, but now will seemingly not just attend, but will speak as well.

Donald Trump Jr. is expected to speak on Wednesday. Other people expected to speak include:

• Lara Trump
• Marjorie Taylor Greene
• Arizona Senate contender Kari Lake
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
• UFC head Dana White
• Tucker Carlson
• Teamsters union general president Sean O’Brien

Can I stream the Republican National Convention live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?

You can. The RNC will livestream the convention on a number of platforms, including YouTube and Twitter/X. Prefer another option? You’ve got a panoply of choices.

Disney+

Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).

Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).

Hulu with Live TV

The free trial on this service is no longer offered, either. It will now cost you $77 per month.

YouTubeTV

After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, unfortunately.

DirecTV Stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast and news networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.

Has security been increased at the 2024 RNC?

U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, in a statement made Monday, said the agency had “reviewed and strengthened” its security plans for the convention following Saturday’s assassination attempt.

“As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the direction of the President, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee,” she wrote. “In addition to the additional security enhancements we provided former President Trump’s detail in June, we have also implemented changes to his security detail since Saturday to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.”