How to watch the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate for free—and without cable
Less than a month after Donald Trump and Kamala Harris took to the stage for what might be their only debate of the 2024 election, their running mates take the spotlight Tuesday night.
While the vice-presidential debate is often a less-watched event, this year might be different, given the surge of interest in both JD Vance and Tim Walz and the tight race between Harris and Trump.
Any edge could be enough to put a candidate in the White House as the campaign enters the home stretch, especially with early voting underway.
Got questions about tonight’s debate? We’ve got answers.
What time does the vice-presidential debate begin?
The debate will be held Tuesday Oct. 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Who is hosting the vice-presidential debate?
CBS News is hosting the debate and will simulcast it online.
How long will the vice-presidential debate last?
The debate is scheduled to last 90 minutes.
Can I watch the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate for free if I don’t have cable?
Yes. CBS is hosting the debate–and all four broadcast networks plan to carry it live, as will PBS. Watching over the air requires an over-the-air antenna. And you’ll want to be sure to test that equipment in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.
How can I stream the vice-presidential debate online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
If you don’t have an antenna, CBS will stream the debate across many platforms online, including Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7 (Other networks are likely to carry the CBS stream on their site as well.)
Other options include:
Paramount+
CBS’s streaming service will give you a one-week free trial, followed by a $8 or $13 monthly charge.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle, which you’ll need to see the debate, 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, as well. It will now cost you $77 per month.
Max
The former HBO-Max, owned by CNN’s parent company, will carry the debate live. Subscriptions start at $10 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, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
What are the rules for this vice-presidential debate?
Moderators won’t fact check candidates in this debate, but microphones will be left on, allowing the candidates to fact check each other, but CBS reserves the rights to turn those microphones off.
There will be no live audience in this debate, nor will the candidates give any sort of opening statement. And only moderators can ask questions. There will also be two commercial breaks, but candidates will not be allowed to confer with their staff in those periods. Candidates will have two minutes for closing statements.
Who is moderating the vice-presidential debate?
CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan will host the vice-presidential debate.
When is the next debate?
At the moment, there are no plans for another debate, between Vance and Walz or between Trump and Harris. Harris has pushed for a second meeting between the presidential candidates, but Trump has said he will not participate.
