BET Still from BET's "Finding Justice" - Minneapolis.
The latest TV special remembering the 2020 death of George Floyd is “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd,” premiering Tuesday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
If you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” online for free:
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Philo TV
You can watch a live stream of BET and 60-plus other TV channels on Philo TV, which comes with a seven-day free trial:
Once signed up for Philo, you can watch “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” live on the Philo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast (compatible on Android mobile), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. You can also watch on your computer on the Philo website.
If you can’t watch live, Philo allows you to DVR programs and watch them up to 30 days later. And even if you forget to DVR something, Philo also comes with a 72-hour rewind feature, which lets you to watch most shows on-demand if they have aired in the last three days.
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of BET and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a seven-day free trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. You can also watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 250 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch most shows on-demand within three days (and sometimes longer) of their conclusion, even if you don’t record them.
AT&T TV
AT&T TV has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” BET is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for AT&T TV, you can watch “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” live on the AT&T TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the AT&T TV website.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to 500 hours).
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of BET and 30-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s Sling Blue bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but you can get the first month for just $10:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 50 hours of cloud DVR.
‘Bars and Ballads for George Floyd’ Preview
“Bars and Ballads for George Floyd” is the first special airing over three nights on BET that will remember the latest George Floyd, who was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2020. The specials will also address “the systemic injustice plaguing Black Americans,” according to the BET press release.
It continues, “These primetime specials will feature a range of notable voices from the Black community who not only pay tribute to the life of George Floyd but reflect on society’s so-called racial reckoning. Has America made meaningful progress in the fight for racial justice and equality in the year since Floyd’s death? If not – what is the path forward?”
The first special features musical and spoken-word performances by Jon Batiste, Nas, Amb. Andrew Young, Anthony Hamilton, Rashad Robinson, Michael K. Williams, Bun B, and Trae tha Truth. Nights two and three are hosted by Soledad O’Brien and feature appearances by Karen Bass, Keith Ellison, Tony Dungy, Travon Free, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Darren Walker, Derrick Johnson, Nikole Hannah Jones, Renee Montgomery, and Philonise Floyd. Those specials are titled “Justice Now: Race & Reckoning” and “Justice Now: The Way Forward.”
These specials are the latest installments in BET’s “Content for Changes” campaign, which aims to support “the creation of content that drives change needed to eliminate systemic racism and inequality in America, and its focus includes social justice, economic empowerment, education, civic engagement, health and wellness.”
“In the year since we’ve lost George Floyd, we’ve all been tasked with examining difficult truths, while the Floyds and many other Black families have buried their loved ones. These tough times push our collective consciousness to challenge societal inequities and strive for safer futures,” said BET President Scott Mills in a statement.
He added, “A year later at BET, it is critical that we continuously join the effort honoring George Floyd’s life and building the world he deserved. Creating Content for Change is part of our contribution to the cooperative effort we all must make in the fight for accountability, justice and equity.”
The three specials air on May 25, 26, and 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET.