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The 2020 Miss America competition is airing live from Uncasville, Connecticut, on Thursday, December 19 beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, as 51 women compete for the coveted job of representing the Miss America Organization and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Here’s how to watch if you don’t have a cable or satellite provider.
If you don’t have cable, you can watch a live stream of NBC on your computer, phone, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or other streaming device via one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming subscription services:
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FuboTV
NBC (live in most markets) is one of 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch a live stream of Miss America 2020 on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of Cloud DVR (with the ability to upgrade to 500 hours), as well as a “72-Hour Lookback” feature, which allows you to watch most shows and events up to three days after they air even if you forgot to record them.
AT&T TV Now
AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now) offers six different channel bundles. They range from 45 to 125 live TV channels, and they all include NBC (live in most markets). The “Plus” and “Max” packages come with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for AT&T TV Now, you can watch a live stream of Miss America 2020 on your computer via the AT&T TV Now website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other compatible streaming device via the AT&T TV app.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV Now — no matter what channel package you choose — comes with included cloud DVR.
Sling TV
Sling TV’s “Sling Blue” package comes with 47 channels, including NBC (live in select markets). It costs $25 for the first month ($35 per month after that), which makes Sling the cheapest streaming service with NBC if you plan on keeping it long term:
Or, as part of a special deal that Sling is currently offering, you can get a free Amazon Fire TV Stick if you prepay for two months:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Miss America 2020 live on your computer via the Sling TV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, or other streaming device via the Sling TV app.
If you can’t watch live, you can get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage for an additional $5 per month.
Hulu With Live TV
NBC (live in most markets) is included in Hulu With Live TV, which comes with 60-plus live TV channels and Hulu’s extensive on-demand library of TV shows and movies:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch a live stream of Miss America 2020 on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show or other streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can’t watch live, “Hulu with Live TV” comes with both its extensive on-demand library (which has most new shows and specials available after they air) and 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
Miss America 2020 Preview
In recent years, the Miss America pageant has actually changed quite a bit from how it used to be conducted. First off, they don’t want to be known as a “pageant” anymore because they have deemphasized outward appearance in favor of focusing on the contestants’ interview skills, talent, and social impact initiatives.
In 2018, the Board of Trustees of the Miss America Organization announced that the pageant was doing away with swimsuits and evening gowns in order to let each of the contestants “highlight her achievements and goals in life” and how she will “use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America.”
“We are no longer a pageant. Miss America will represent a new generation of female leaders focused on scholarship, social impact, talent, and empowerment,” said Gretchen Carlson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, adding “We’re experiencing a cultural revolution in our country with women finding the courage to stand up and have their voices heard on many issues. Miss America is proud to evolve as an organization and join this empowerment movement.”
“Miss America’s new mission statement is: ‘To prepare great women for the world, and to prepare the world for great women,'” said Regina Hopper, President & CEO. “We want more young women to see this program as a platform upon which they can advance their desire to make a real difference and to provide them with the necessary skills and resources for them to succeed in any career path they choose.”
Indeed, the winner of Miss America embarks on a 365-day “year of service” in which she represents the organization all over the country and sometimes in other countries, plus she works with the MAO to develop her social impact initiative and acts as the National Ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since 2007, the Miss America Organization has raised over $17 million for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The organization also awards tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money to its contestants. In the 2020 competition, there were four categories of scholarships given out: Equity and Justice, Social Impact Initiative, STEM, and Women in Business. Each category features five finalists who will be receiving varying amounts of scholarship money.
The Miss America competition airs live Thursday, December 19, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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