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“I Was There” is a new series that revisits critical moments in human history. It premieres Sunday, February 20 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on the History Channel.
If you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of “I Was There” online for free:
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Philo TV
You can watch a live stream of the History Channel 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 “I Was There” 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), any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), 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 the History Channel and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a seven-day free trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch “I Was There” live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can 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.
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of the History Channel and 65+ other TV channels on Vidgo, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch “I Was There” live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Vidgo website.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of the History Channel and 30-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s Sling Blue or Sling Orange bundle. Either can be included in your free three-day trial:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch “I Was There” live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), 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.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” The History Channel 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 DirecTV Stream, you can watch “I Was There” live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
If you can’t watch live, DirecTV Stream also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to unlimited hours).
‘I Was There’ Preview
This new 12-part nonfiction series is executive produced by news anchor George Stephanopoulos and hosted by Theo E.J. Wilson, who is the grandson of a Tuskegee Airman. It aims to take viewers on “an immersive trip back in time, placing Wilson at the center of some of history’s biggest events, to deconstruct how they truly unfolded,” according to the History Channel press release.
It continues:
It features surprising perspectives on how a map, a dance, and fateful timing were factors in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and how cost-cutting, weather, and a spark created one of history’s worst aircraft catastrophes – the Hindenburg disaster. Each episode highlights a different moment in history. Inspired by his passion for history, Wilson is a fly on the wall as he breaks down the barrier between the audience and the action to revisit a series of critical historical events, disasters, triumphs and true stories to learn unexpected facts in an engaging, fast-moving, and often unpredictable way.
Through original archival material, expert testimony and dramatic re-creations using CGI technology to place Wilson in the scene, each episode challenges ideas of what really happened during some of the most pivotal moments in history. This season explores Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; the Hindenburg disaster; the Salem witch trials; the death of Jesse James; the Oklahoma City bombing; the battle of Stalingrad; H.H. Holmes’ murder spree during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair; the Chernobyl accident; the 1965 Bloody Sunday march from Selma to Montgomery; the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster; the 1889 catastrophic Johnstown flood in eastern Pennsylvania and the St. Valentine’s Day massacre.
Expert interviews include Emmy Award-winning journalist and “Nightline” co-anchor Byron Pitts, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” author Ron Hansen, the FBI’s Chief Explosives Specialist Kirk Yeager, former NASA astronaut Winston Scott, Hood College’s Director of African American Studies and Associate Professor of American History Dr. Terry Anne Scott, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative and Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History at the University of St. Thomas Dr. Yohuru Williams and more.
“We are honored to partner with George on this compelling series that is a front-row seat to the history-making moments of our past,” said Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for the History Channel, in a statement. “Coupled with our captivating host Theo who leads us on an immersive journey to uniquely discover fascinating pieces of history, our audiences will feel as though they were right there in the action during such events as President Lincoln’s assassination or the battle of Stalingrad.”
“I Was There” premieres Sunday, February 20 at 10:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times on the History Channel.