Top 6 Biggest Live TV Events You Can’t Miss This Fall

The season has changed and it’s time to come back inside and huddle around the living room for some fall programming. This year’s lineup of live TV events promises something for everyone, from sports to talk show premieres and plenty of awards shows.

If you gave up on live TV long ago when you ditched your cable plan, rest assured there are options at your disposal, none of which should come at the expense of your wallet. Many online streaming service providers now also offer live TV packages that have you covered when it comes to the stuff worth watching. Below is a list of exciting live TV events you won’t want to miss this fall, especially now that you can watch amazing content on the go with your favorite streaming devices.

If you’ve been keeping up with the NFL preseason, you know this year’s games are looking epic. The Kansas City Chiefs are reigning champions coming back to defend their title, but plenty of other teams are looking very competitive this year, and the trophy is really up for grabs. You can watch all the NFL games without cable, including special programming such as “Monday Night Football,” “Thursday Night Football,” and “Sunday Night Football.” Check out our list of must-watch NFL games for your consideration.

In other sports news, the Invictus Games started this past weekend and will run until Saturday, Sept. 16. This international sporting event brings together wounded servicemen and women, both on-duty members and veterans, for a series of competitions across a wide range of categories. From archery to wheelchair basketball, powerlifting, and more, this is a great watch for anyone highly anticipating the next Olympics. The Invictus Games are also entertaining and inspiring in their own right, and their support programs for people in recovery are a great example for the sporting industry. You can watch The Games on the BBC channel online.

Now that the Oscars and most other TV and film ceremonies are behind us, the second half of the year is big on music awards — and the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) take center stage. This annual celebration is one of the biggest award shows in the industry, and it recognizes achievement with categories such as “Best New Artist,” “Song of the Summer,” and, famously, “Video of the Year.” Nicki Minaj is slated to return as host, and she’s also expected to perform some of her music onstage. Check out our guide on how to watch the 2023 VMAs without cable for more information.

The NBA In-Season Tournament wraps up our year in sports with high-stakes and exhilarating games. The NBA announced earlier this summer that they were launching a new in-season tournament that would start on Friday, Nov. 3, and culminate on a championship slated for Saturday, Dec. 9. The event seems to be a way to compete with other sporting events such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup — as devoted fans, the news is music to our ears. Your favorite basketball teams are expected to face off at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with all 30 NBA teams being randomly split into five different groups. You can watch it via NBA TV without cable.

Aside from the VMAs, the Billboard Music Awards is the other big night in the music world. This year’s ceremony is taking place on a new fall date, and while no performers have been announced yet, signs point to “Country” being a theme of the night. This is in great part due to breakout artists like Morgan Wallen and Oliver Anthony popularizing the genre and bringing it to new audiences. If you’ve listened to the radio recently, odds are you’ve heard a country song even if you were listening to the Hot 100. You can watch the Billboard Music Awards on NBC without cable, as well as on Peacock.

The Gotham Awards are the exception to film and TV awards in more ways than one. While most other similar programming happens earlier in the year, the Gothams take place in late November. Given that they honor independent movies, it makes sense that they’re quirky like that. The ceremony takes place in New York City and brings together artists and performers from all over the world for a night of commemoration and triumph. You can stream the show online on the Gotham Film & Media Institute’s YouTube channel.