How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable
Want to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable? Here's what streaming service you'll need.
For the 97th year in a row, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is hitting the streets of New York City on Nov. 23, 2023. The annual holiday tradition kicks off a half hour early this year with a performance by Grammy- and Oscar-winner Jon Batiste. Other appearances include Cher, who will perform a new holiday song, Brandy, Chicago, Ashley Park with Sesame Street Muppets, Jessie James Decker, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Pentatonix, and of course — Santa. Besides the new start time, this year boasts new camera angles, six new balloons, and six new floats.
Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will host at-home audiences on NBC during the 2.5-mile parade, while TV personalities Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host the simulcast on Telemundo. If you don't have cable, don't worry; you can still keep the tradition alive via streaming. Here's what you need to know to tune in live.
What time is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
On Nov. 23, the parade is set to air from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock and will re-broadcast from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET for those who don't wake up early. If you don't have cable, you'll either need a Peacock subscription or a cable replacement like Sling, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV.
How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable
Best Peacock deal for most people
Like every other streaming service, Peacock suffered a recent price hike, upping its cost for the Premium Plan with ads from $4.99/month ($49.99/year) to $5.99/month ($59.99/year). If you want to cut out ads, you'll have to fork over even more and pay $11.99/month for the Premium Plus Plan. Fortunately, though, we've found a deal for an entire year of the Premium Plan (with ads) for only $39.99/year — just enter the code BIGTENFAN at checkout and cut the cost down to just $3.33/month.
It's worth noting that Peacock tends to offer one of the best Black Friday deals of any streamer. Last year, it offered a year of the ad-supported plan for only $1 per month. Since there's been a price hike in the last year, it's likely the offer will be slightly more this year — but be on the lookout for a Black Friday deal in the next few days. If it's live before Thanksgiving Day, this will be your best bet for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade for a steal.
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers
If you use Xfinity internet, you can score a free or discounted subscription to Peacock to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and plenty more. You can check your eligibility over at the Xfinity website, but here's a breakdown if you know which plan you're on:
Xfinity Internet users with Gigabit or Gigabit+ speed can get Peacock Premium for free for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).
Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by simply redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards, select the Peacock reward, and wait for an email with instructions on how to activate your offer.
NOW TV customers get Peacock Premium included as part of their service.
Best Peacock deal for Spectrum customers
Spectrum TV and internet customers can also tune into the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other gems on Peacock for free. Spectrum TV customers can secure a free year of Peacock Premium, while internet customers can enjoy 90 days for free — plenty of time to enjoy the traditional parade and so much more. Double-check the terms and conditions for eligibility requirements and make sure you sign up before the deal expires on Dec. 7.
Best Peacock Deal for students
Students can keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive even without a cable plan by snagging a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99/month (for an entire year). All you need is a verifiable student status (a .edu email address) with SheerID. Once you pass the verification, you'll get a unique promo code to sign up for Peacock at a discount. The promo code can only be used once, though, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Best Peacock deal for first responders
Similarly, first responders can score a year of Peacock Premium for only $1.99/month as well (reg. $5.99/month). Verify your first responder status via SheerID upon signing up and use the unique promo code to knock down the cost per month. Eligible first responders who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew the Peacock offer annually and enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade and much more for years to come. Learn more about eligibility and offer terms here.
Best cable replacement option
For those who would rather sign up for a cable replacement than a single streaming service to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other live events, Sling TV is your best bet. It's by far the most affordable cable alternative and lets you pick and choose the channels you want access to. For access to NBC, you'll need the Blue plan, which typically costs $40/month. However, you can save 50% ony our first month and try it out for only $20.
Note: Double check that NBC is available in your local network before committing to Sling.
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