How to Watch the Mega Millions Lottery Live on TV

Tonight’s Mega Millions lottery drawing is estimated to be worth $940 million — almost $1 billion. If you’re wanting to watch the drawing live on TV, your options are listed below. The drawing takes place at 11 p.m. Eastern tonight on Friday, January 6, 2023.

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Nationally Available Options for Watching the Drawing Live

One good option, no matter where you live, is to look for a local WGN-TV affiliate (now known as NewsNation) wherever you live. Use this channel finder to locate the station near you.

You may also want to have a live stream option up as a backup. WGN-TV has a stream at this link that is expected to show the drawing live. You may also be able to watch on WSB-TV 2’s live stream, which is available here. WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia is where the actual drawing takes place

For your convenience, we’re embedding a live stream link below from WGN-TV, which will show local news until the drawing.

If the embed above doesn’t work on your browser, you can also try one of the many TV station options listed below.

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State-by-State TV Channel Options

Many local TV stations broadcast the drawing live. We’re providing examples of the ones that may do so in your region below. Please note that the channel numbers may be different depending on your cable provider. (To find out what channel a specific station is on for you, click here to go to TV Guide’s listings.)

Alabama & Alaska: Alabama and Alaska aren’t listed because the states aren’t participating in lotteries.

Arizona: Looking for a station that broadcasts WGN/NewsNation is your best bet. In addition, the Arizona Lottery site has previously noted that Tucson sometimes airs drawings on KOLD News 13 at 10:25 pm.

Arkansas: Looking for a station that broadcasts WGN/NewsNation is your best bet. The Arkansas website has previously listed drawings as being sometimes broadcast on KAIT 8 ABC, CBS 5, and KATV ABC 7.

California: CBS-8 in San Diego, according to LotteryUniverse, at 8 p.m. Pacific.

Colorado: Looking for a station that broadcasts WGN/NewsNation is your best bet or watch online.

Connecticut: WCCT-TV was previously recommended on Connecticut’s Lottery website. Or you can check your numbers on the website or watch online via a live stream.

Delaware: Looking for a station that broadcasts WGN/NewsNation is your best bet.

Florida: A complete list is here.

• Ft. Myers – WFTX (Fox) and WWDT/Telemundo
• Gainesville – WCJB-ABC
• Jacksonville – MeTV/MyTV (Fox), WFox, or CBS (WJAX)
• Miami/Ft. Lauderdale – WFOR CBS, WBFS MyTV, WLTV (Univision), WAMI TV (Unimas)
• Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne – WKMG-CBS and WTMO/Telemundo
• Panama City – WJHG-NBC
• Pensacola – WFGX-MyTV, WEAR ABC
• Sarasota – WWSB-ABC
• Tallahassee – WTXL-ABC
• Tampa/St. Petersburg – WTSP-CBS and WVEA/Univision
• West Palm Beach – WPEC-CBS, WWHB-TV (Azteca)

Georgia: In Georgia, you have several options that might work. The drawing itself is held at WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, Channel 2. Also recommended are:

• WSB-TV (Atlanta, GA)
• WALB (Albany, GA)
• WJBF (Augusta, GA)
• 13WMAZ (Macon, GA)
• WSAV (Savannah, GA)
• WRBL (Columbus, GA)

Hawaii: Hawaii isn’t listed because the state isn’t participating in the lottery.

Idaho: The Idaho lottery website previously listed these channels, however, they are no longer updating this listing, so you might want to look for a backup too:

• Boise – KTVB NBC 7  or Channel 7.2 or KTVCB.com
• Idaho Falls/Pocatello – KPVI-NBC Channel 6 (delayed)
• Lewiston – KLEW-CBS Channel 3/8 (live)
• Twin Falls – NBC 7.8 (live) or KTFT-NBC Channel 7 (delayed)

Illinois: Chicago/Statewide – WGN – Channel 9

Indiana: In Indianapolis, the following stations are listed.

• Fox59 in Indianapolis (Live)
• South Bend WNDU16 (11:09-11:13 p.m. Eastern)
• Terre Haute WTW02 (Live)
• Fort Wayne WANE15 (Live)
• Evansville WTVW7  (Live)
• Evansville WEHT25 (10:17 p.m. Central)
• Merrillville Lakeshore Public Television (10:28 p.m. Central)

Iowa: According to Iowa’s lottery website:

• Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Dubuque – KWWL
• Sioux City – KTIV

Kansas: According to Kansas Lottery in a previous update, only KDGL, an independent station broadcasting on Channel 23 in Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, Ulysses and Sublette, and WDAF-TV Fox 4 in Kansas City, Missouri, broadcast Powerball (and possibly Mega Millions.) But this isn’t currently listed on the site, so you may need to have a live stream as a backup.

Kentucky: WGN – According to the Kentucky Lottery website, a TV station is no longer listed (although it previously suggested the local WGN affiliate.) You may want a live stream ready in case it’s not broadcast or look for a WGN/NewsNation channel. Kansas’ website currently says to watch your local 10 p.m. news station to see the drawing.

Louisiana: In Louisiana, these stations broadcast lottery drawings:

• Alexandria – KALB Channel 5 (NBC/CBS/CW)
• Baton Rouge – WBRZ 2+
• Lafayette – KATC3
• Lake Charles – KVHP Channel 29 Fox
• Monroe – KARD Channel 14
• New Orleans – WVUE Channel 8 Fox
• Shreveport – KTBS 3 ABC and KPXJ 21 CW

Maine: According to Maine’s lottery website’s previous listing, you can watch the drawing on WAGM – Fox 23 or WABI. However, this hasn’t been updated recently, so have a live stream backup on hand or try to find a local WGN/NewsNation channel.

Maryland: WBAL-TV 11

Massachusetts: According to Mass Live, there are no local Massachusetts TV stations that air drawings. However, you may be able to watch it anyway if you have access to any of these affiliates: Hartford’s WTIC Channel 61 & WCCT Channel 20 or Derry’s WBIN Channel 18. Mass Live recommends finding an online stream.

Michigan

• Detroit – WDIV-TV according to LotteryUniverse
• Grand Rapids – WOOD-TV8, according to LotteryUniverse
• Norton Shores – WMKG-CD, according to LotteryUniverse

Minnesota: Minnesota’s Lottery website had previously noted that the state no longer broadcasts Mega Millions live. You might want to try a live stream to watch live or look for a local WGN/NewsNation channel.

Mississippi: Mississippi’s website previously recommended watching on YouTube once the drawing is uploaded. Or you can watch for a live stream or a local WGN/NewsNation channel.

Missouri: Your best bet might be WDAF-TV Fox 4 or have a live stream ready.

Montana: The state’s own lottery website doesn’t list a channel. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate.

Nebraska: Nebraska’s lottery website doesn’t list a channel but simply says to watch “on your favorite television station.” So try a local station while also keeping an online live stream ready as a backup, or look for a WGN affiliate.

Nevada: Nevada isn’t listed because the state isn’t participating in the lottery.

New Hampshire: New Hampshire’s lottery website doesn’t list a channel but redirects to YouTube. Your best bet is likely to watch it online via a live stream or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

New Jersey: In New Jersey, the website had previously mentioned that  PIX11 (New York) and PHL17 (Philadelphia) might broadcast the drawings, but this is no longer listed. It does list this webpage for watching streams. You may want a second live stream online as backup.

New Mexico: The state’s own lottery website doesn’t list a TV station and recommends watching the drawing online. Your best bet is likely to watch it online via a live stream or try a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

New York: In New York, some stations listed are from LotteryUniverse and some are from New York’s lottery website. Check with your local station to make sure it will broadcast the drawing.

• Albany – WALB ABC-10
• Buffalo: WUTV 29
• Binghamton – WBNG-12
• Capital Region: WRGB 6 or CW 15
• East Syracuse: WSYR-TV
• Elmira: WETM 18
• Johnson City: WBNG-TV
• New York – ABC-7
• Plattsburgh – WPTZ
• Rochester – WHAM-13
• Syracuse – WSTM 3 or WTVH 5
• Utica: WUTR 20
• Watertown: WSTM 3 or WTVH 5

North Carolina: In North Carolina, you can watch the drawing live on the following stations when available:

• Asheville – WLOS Channel 13
• Charlotte – WAXN TV 64/WSOC
• Greenville/New Bern/Washington – WITN Channel 7
• Raleigh – WRAL Channel 5
• The Triad – WGHP Fox 8

North Dakota: North Dakota’s website doesn’t list a station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Ohio: In Ohio, Mega Millions drawings are broadcast on WGN affiliates, but also possibly on these stations:

• Cincinnati: WCPO ABC 9
• Cleveland: WEWS ABC 5
• Columbus: WTTE Fox 28, WSYX ABC 6
• Dayton: WHIO CBS 7
• Huntington: WSAZ NBC 13
• Lima: ELIO Fox 9, EOHL CBS 11, WOHL ABC 12
• Steubenville: WTRF CBS 7
• Toledo: WTVG ABC 13
• Youngstown: WFMJ NBC 21
• Zanesville: WHIZ NBC 18

Oklahoma: Oklahoma doesn’t list TV stations. Your best bet may be to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Oregon: Oregon doesn’t list a TV station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Pennsylvania: In Pennsylvania, try the following:

• Erie – WJET Channel 24 (at 11:20 p.m.)
• Harrisburg/Lancaster/York – WGAL Channel 8 (at 11:20 p.m.)
• Johnstown/Altoona/State College – WTAJ Channel 10 (at 11:20 p.m.)
• Philadelphia – WTXF Channel 29 (live at 11 p.m.)
• Pittsburgh – WPXI Channel 11 (at 11:11 p.m.)
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – WNEP Channel 16 (live at 11 p.m.)

Rhode Island: Rhode Island doesn’t list a TV station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

South Carolina: According to the South Carolina lottery website, these stations were previously listed. It’s not clear if they are still broadcasting live. You may want a backup live stream ready.

• Aiken/Augusta – WRDW-TV CBS
• Charleston – WCSC – CBS
• Columbia – WLTX – CBS
• Florence/Myrtle Beach – WMBF – NBC
• Greenville/Spartanburg – WHNS – FOX
• Hilton Head – WHHI-TV
• Rock Hill/Charlotte – WMYT – MNT

South Dakota: South Dakota doesn’t list a TV station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Tennessee: According to Tennessee’s lottery website, these were once listed as broadcasting the drawing but it’s not clear if they still do. You’ll want a backup live stream option ready.

• Chattanooga – WTVC – ABC Channel 9
• Jacksonville – WBBJ – ABC Channel 7
• Knoxville – WBIR – NBC Channel 10
• Nashville – WKRN – ABC Channel 2
• Memphis – WREG – CBS Channel 3
• Tri-cities area – WKPT – ABC Channel 19

Texas: Texas’ website doesn’t list broadcast stations. Your best bet may be to watch online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate or watch online. You can also watch on Texas’ website (sometimes delayed) here.

Utah: Utah isn’t listed because the state isn’t participating in the lottery. Find out more here.

Vermont : According to Vermont’s website, you can sometimes watch on WCAX Channel 3 at 11 p.m. Eastern.

Virginia: In Virginia, watch at the stations below:

• WRIC-TV — Richmond
• WDBJ-TV — Roanoke
• WVEC-TV — Hampton
• WUSA-TV — Northern VA
• WHSV-TV — Harrisonburg

Virgin Islands: Christiansted, St. Croix – ABC WSVI – Channel 8

Washington: Washington doesn’t list a broadcast channel. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Washington D.C. : NewsChannel 8 (according to D.C.’s lottery website in the past.) A station isn’t currently listed.

West Virginia: In West Virginia, try WSAZ NBC 3 in Huntington.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s website doesn’t list a broadcast station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

Wyoming: Wyoming’s website doesn’t list a broadcast station. Your best bet is likely to watch it online or look for a WGN/NewsNation affiliate if available.

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How to Play

Here’s how to play, according to Mega Millions’ official website. One ticket costs $2.

Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers – five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball) – or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.

Some states have an additional option called “Just the Jackpot.”

Mega Millions notes: “In some states, a special offer called Just the Jackpot is available. Jackpot players will love this exciting new wager type that allows them to play specifically for the jackpot only. At a price of $3, the player will receive two plays for the jackpot only. Just the Jackpot tickets are not eligible for any other prize levels. To see if the lottery in your jurisdiction offers this option, visit that lottery’s website.”

There’s also a Megaplier option if you’re wanting to possibly increase your winnings.

Mega Millions notes: “Most states offer a Megaplier feature to increase non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times; it costs an additional $1 per play.  Before each Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday and Friday nights, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with 2X, six with 3X, three with 4X and one with 5X.”

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