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The 2025 Video Music Awards (VMAs) air live on MTV this Sunday, Sept. 7 and even if you’ve cut the cord, there are still ways to watch the show live without cable.
These days, you can stream the VMAs and all your favorite MTV shows through affordable streaming platforms, often at little to no cost. Along with the VMAs, MTV offers a lineup of popular reality shows, including Teen Mom, Jersey Shore, RuPaul’s Drag Race and many more. Whether you’re into drama, competition or following the lives of your favorite personalities, MTV has something for everyone.
Below, Billboard breaks down the current deals and offers available to watch MTV online without cable.
How to Watch MTV Online Without Cable for Free
If you don’t have cable, you can watch the VMAs and other MTV shows online for free or at a lower price with different streaming services such as DIRECTV, Philo, Fubo, Paramount+ and Sling TV. DIRECTV and Philo both offer free trials for up to a week, allowing you to sign up and stream without any initial cost.
You can start your five-day free trial with DIRECTV for instant access to more than 90 live channels. Streaming plans include network television channels such as NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC, along with MTV, BET, VH1, TLC, Bravo, WEtv, HGTV, Fx, ESPN, Trvl, TV One, Tru TV, ID, TNT, TV Land, USA and other cable channels.
For those in search of an alternative streaming platform, consider using Philo. Philo offers 70+ cable channels including MTV, BET, VH1, Lifetime, WEtv, ID, Trvl Channel, OWN, AMC, Comedy Central for $28/month after a 7-day free trial.
You can also stream all your favorite shows on Sling TV. With the streamer’s Sling Orange plan, you can stream MTV and other channels from just $30 for your first month (regularly $40/month). The plan includes 34 channels in total, with seven exclusive sports and family channels.
Or with the service’s new Sling Passes option, you can get a single day of access to live TV, sports and entertainment for just $4.99.
If you’re already a subscriber to Paramount+, your subscription includes access to MTV shows online, and occasional live MTV airings of shows like the VMAs. You’ll have have access to watch MTV shows on-demand at anytime.
Not subscribed? Paramount+ is currently offering a seven-day free trial when you sign up for either of its plans: Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime, which means you can watch MTV online for free.
For those seeking budget-friendly options, the most cost-effective option would be Paramount+ with Showtime. This subscription not only grants access to Paramount+’s extensive library of shows and movies, but also allows streaming of Showtime’s entire catalog for just $11.99 per month after the free trial period ends.