How to watch the solar eclipse on TV: What to know about live coverage and broadcast info

The much-anticipated total solar eclipse is here, and whether you're in the path of totality or following along from afar, you'll have plenty of ways to watch the rare event.

The eclipse's U.S. path will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:36 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path. You can search by zip code to find the exact time for your location.

Millions of people are expected to travel to see the eclipse, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its effects on the Earth and its atmosphere.

If you are unable to see it from where you are, you can track the eclipse on your mobile device or follow along on television, as multiple networks will have shows focused on eclipse coverage.

Here's what to know about how you can follow the eclipse on television and streaming platforms.

Solar eclipse livestream

If you're looking for a livestream of the eclipse you can watch on your phone or computer, USA TODAY is providing a stream here.

ABC, National Geographic eclipse coverage

ABC News and National Geographic announced they would air "Eclipse Across America," live on Monday beginning at 2 p.m. EDT on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+ and Hulu, as well as network social media platforms.

The special will be anchored by "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and "ABC News Live Prime" anchor Linsey Davis, who will be reporting live from Burlington, Vermont, according to a news release from the network.

Watch solar eclipse coverage on Hulu: Subscribe

Spanning 10 cities across North America, "Eclipse Across America" will broadcast from the following locations in the path of totality: Mazatlán, Mexico; Del Rio, Texas; Dallas; Russellville, Arkansas; Carbondale, Illinois; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Niagara Falls, New York; Burlington, Vermont and Houlton, Maine.

Viewers will be able to watch the program from anywhere – TV, mobile, computers, and more – and will also be simulcast on social on ABC News' Facebook, YouTube channel and TikTok, and on Nat Geo's Facebook, according to the network.

CNN eclipse coverage

CNN will also have special live coverage of the eclipse, with featured programming on its television, streaming and digital platforms, according to a news release.

CNN's live presentation will be featured from 1-4 p.m. EDT on "CNN News Central" with Brianna Keilar and Boris Sanchez and CNN International and CNN Max with Richard Quest and Rahel Solomon. CNN Digital will feature a special multi-hour livestream and coverage of the event across the United States at CNN.com/Eclipse.

CNN en Español anchor Rey Rodriguez will be reporting live from Mazatlán, Mexico starting Sunday, hosting "Mirador Mundial" live on location at 6 p.m. EDT, and live reporting throughout the day on Monday.

NBC eclipse coverage

NBC's Lester Holt will host a special broadcast starting at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway that will air on NBC, NBC News Now, NBCNews.com and Peacock, according to the network.

CBS eclipse coverage

Norah O’Donnell and Tony Dokoupil are hosting CBS' coverage, also from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The broadcast will feature contributions from several journalists based around the nation, including Dallas, Cleveland and Russellville, Arkansas.

The broadcast is set for 2 p.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS' TV channel.

Fox Weather

Fox Weather's coverage of the solar eclipse will be anchored by meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Kendall Smith from Dallas and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, respectively, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

The network says Fox Weather will also provide coverage for Fox News and Fox Business channels

Solar eclipse path of totality

A new map is projecting that the path of totality for Monday's solar eclipse may be narrower than experts previously believed. But if you're right on the edge of the path, don't go changing your plans just yet.

New amateur calculations suggest that widely-accepted path could be off by as much as just a few hundred yards. The potential shift in the eclipse's path is so miniscule, in fact, that a NASA spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press the U.S. space agency won't be making any alterations to its own calculations.

So, even if the new calculation is more accurate, it’s unlikely to matter much for most of the millions of skygazers who hope to witness the first total solar eclipse in North America in seven years.

The new eclipse calculations come courtesy of John Irwin, a member of the team of amateur astronomers analyzing the celestial event for the Besselian Elements.

But don't fret too much: Not only is the new analysis not yet peer-reviewed, but NASA told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that its predictions have not changed.

However, NASA spokesman Tiernan Doyle acknowledged "a tiny but real uncertainty about the size of the sun" could lead to a narrower eclipse path.

Contributing: Doyle Rice & Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].

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