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How to watch the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics opening ceremony today: Livestream options, more

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This photograph shows the Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower ahead of the traditional fireworks marking the annual Bastille Day in Paris, on July 14, 2024. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

Take a trip up the Seine River without leaving home for the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. While Olympic opening ceremonies have traditionally kicked off from stadiums, the Paris Summer Games will begin with the collection of international athletes floating up the Seine, which runs through the heart of Paris. In another first, spectators need no admission to watch the opening ceremony in person.

Whether you're showing up in person or watching from home, it's never been easier to enjoy the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Keep reading to find out how.


How and when to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The Summer Olympics opening ceremony will take place on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT). The opening ceremony will be broadcast on NBC, with coverage starting at noon ET. An enhanced encore will be broadcast on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.


How to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony without cable

While many cable packages include NBC and the other channels broadcasting the opening ceremony, it's easy to watch the opening ceremony if those channels aren't included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don't have cable at all. Your best options for watching the Olympics opening ceremony are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)

Watch every event of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Peacock

In addition to major sporting events like the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Peacock offers its subscribers live-streaming access to NFL games that air on NBC and sports airing on USA Network. The streaming service has plenty more live sports to offer, including Big Ten basketball, Premier League soccer and WWE wrestling (including formerly PPV-only events such as WrestleMania). There are 80,000 hours worth of recorded content to watch as well, including hit movies and TV series such as "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation."

A Peacock subscription costs $8 per month. An annual plan is available for $80 per year (best value). You can cancel anytime.

Top features of Peacock:

  • Peacock's Olympic coverage will include "multi-view" options in which fans can curate their viewing journey, choosing the Olympic events they are most interested in watching.
  • Peacock will air exclusive coverage of PGA Tour events, Olympic trials and Paris Olympics 2024 events.
  • Peacock features plenty of current and classic NBC and Bravo TV shows, plus original programming such as the award-winning reality show "The Traitors."

Stream the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Sling TV for half price

If you don't have cable TV that includes NBC, one of the most cost-effective ways to the opening ceremony is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer also offers access to Olympic qualifiers, the 2024 Paris Games, NFL football airing on NBC, Fox and ABC (where available) and NFL Network with its Orange + Blue plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all the season's top NFL matchups.

That Orange + Blue plan normally costs $60 per month, but the streamer is currently offering a $25 off promotion for your first month, so you'll pay just $35. Sports fans may want to up their coverage with the Sports Extra plan, which costs $11 per month, and includes Golf Channel among others. You can learn more by tapping the button below.

Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:

  • Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like NASCAR.
  • There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
  • You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
  • All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
  • You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (19 in total) via Sling TV's Sports Extras add-on.

Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony airing on network TV with Fubo

You can also catch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to network-aired sports like the NBA Summer League  and almost every NFL game next season. Packages include the live feed of sports and programming airing on CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network and more, so you'll be able to watch more than just the Summer Olympics- all without a cable subscription.

To watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to Olympic events, you'll have access to NFL football, Fubo offers NCAA college sports, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. Fubo's Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.

Sports fans will want to consider adding on the $7.99 per month Fubo Extra package, which includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network and more channels. Or upgrade to the Fubo Elite tier and get all the Fubo Extra channels, plus the ability to stream in 4K, for an extra $10 per month.

Top features of Fubo Pro Tier:

  • There are no contracts with Fubo -- you can cancel at any time.
  • You can watch sporting events up to 72 hours after they air live with Fubo's lookback feature.
  • The Pro tier includes over 180 channels, including NFL Network and Golf Channel.
  • Fubo includes all the channels you'll need to watch college and pro sports, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
  • All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
  • Stream on your TV, phone, and other devices.

Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony free on Hulu + Live TV

You can watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and more top-tier sports coverage, including NFL Network, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including Golf Channel. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and every NFL game on every network next season with Hulu + Live TV,  plus exclusive live regular season NFL games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after three-day free trial.


Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony live with a digital HDTV antenna

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Amazon

You can also watch the opening ceremony airing on network TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here's the kicker: There's no monthly charge.

For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal -- or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch sports without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.

This ultra-thin, multi-directional Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro digital antenna with a 65-mile range can receive hundreds of HD TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox and Univision, and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV, top-tier sound and comes with a 12-foot digital coax cable.

This antenna is currently $56 with coupon at Amazon, reduced from $70.


2024 Summer Olympic Games schedule: Key dates

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Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Below are key dates for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. For  more information on how to watch every Olympic event this summer, tap here.

Key dates for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games

  • Olympic Village Opens: July 13
  • Torch Relay in Paris: July 20 - July 26
  • Gymnastics: July 27 - August 5
  • Swimming: July 27 - August 4
  • Track and Field: August 1 - August 11
  • Breaking: August 9 and 10
  • Basketball: July 28 - August 9
  • Soccer: July 24 - August 10
  • Cycling (Track): August 1 - August 5
  • Volleyball: July 28 - August 11
  • Closing Ceremony: August 11

How will the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony work?

The 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony will consist of boats for each national designation traveling up the Seine through the center of Paris. Going from east to west, 10,500 athletes will cross through Paris before finally landing in front of the Trocadéro, where the remainder of the opening ceremony will take place.


Who's Performing at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony?

While Olympic organizers are keeping the official line up of opening ceremony performers to themselves, rumors include Celine Dion, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter all making appearances. Incroyable!


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