Watching TV no longer requires cable or an antenna, so, in theory, the Emmys should be easy to watch, right? Well, they are, sort of. Here’s a breakdown of how to watch the Emmys, and the somewhat complex method of catching them if you’re not near a TV.
There is an official livestream, first of all, but getting at it is a bit tricky and depends on where you live. You need to have cable of some sort, first of all, to have the proper login credentials. Like most networks, ABC has an app for iOS, Android and set-top boxes like Roku, and a livestream website. Just punch in your information and the official livestream will work. Well, if you happen to live in Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco. Or if you have DirecTV in Albuquerque, Boston, Ft. Smith/Fayetteville, Jackson (Mississippi), Kansas City, Milwaukee, Monterey-Salinas, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pittsburgh, Portland-Auburn (Maine), Savannah and West Palm Beach. Everywhere else, well, you’re out of luck.
Yes, it’s a bit silly, and if you find it annoying, you should contact your local affiliate, as they’re often the ones who have to work out a deal with the network. But until they hash out a deal, what are your other options? The first is to simply find an antenna. ABC is, after all, putting this on the air for free, and a good antenna will run you as little as 10 dollars. You can also find antennas for your phone and your laptop, but shop carefully and remember that you get what you pay for, especially in this particular arena.
You’ve also got a few options for services that stream live TV over the internet. Sling and PlayStation Vue are two prominent examples, and they offer trials for new customers. That said, remember to cancel if you don’t want the service past the trial period. And if all else fails, check your local event listings and contact local bars and restaurants. Keep in mind Sunday there’s a lot of NFL games, and the Packers and Vikings are squaring off directly against the ceremony, although most of those games should be wrapping up before the ceremony itself starts. The Yankees and Red Sox are also going up against the Emmys, so that’s a factor as well. Good luck and happy streaming!
