How To Watch the Rose Bowl Live

Fans can catch “The Granddaddy of Them All” this season on ESPN. As the first-ever postseason college football game, the Rose Bowl began a long-standing tradition that continues to thrill fans every New Year’s Day.

Held annually in Pasadena, California, the Rose Bowl is paired with the vibrant Rose Parade, which showcases elaborate floral floats, marching bands, and equestrian acts. Whether you want to watch the game, the parade, or both, make sure you don’t miss a moment.

How to watch the Rose Bowl in the U.S.

ESPN holds the exclusive rights to the game, and you will need a streaming package or a cable subscription.

Several streaming platforms offer ESPN access, and certain internet service providers (like Xfinity) also give you access if you log in with your credentials. You can also subscribe to ESPN+ on its own if you don’t want to bundle it with other services.

Platform	Price	Free Trial	Channels Included
Hulu + Live TV	$82.99/mo	Yes, 3 days	ESPN
Hulu + Disney+ + ESPN+	$16.99/mo		ESPN on-demand content
Sling TV (Orange)	$40/mo	No ($20 off first month)	ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3
Fubo TV	$79.99/mo		ESPN
YouTube TV	$72.99/mo		ESPN
ESPN+	$11.99/mo		ESPN on-demand content

How to watch on Hulu

Hulu is a popular streaming service that provides access to live TV channels, including ESPN, ABC, and NBC. Users can bundle a subscription with Disney+ and ESPN+ or opt for Hulu + Live TV.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what Hulu offers:

• Price: $9.99/mo with ads or $18.99/mo without ads
• Bundle options: Add Disney+ for $1 extra/mo. Add Disney+ and ESPN+ for $8/mo without ads or $7 with ads.
• Free trial: Trials vary and are subject to change.
• DVR: Unlimited cloud DVR allows you to record and watch your favorite shows later.
• Multiple streams: You can stream two different screens simultaneously.
• Device compatibility: Hulu supports game consoles, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Android TV, Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Apple TV.

How to watch the Rose Bowl Parade

Before the pigskin touches the turf, the Rose Parade brings the New Year to life in Pasadena. The 2025 event is themed as the “Best Day Ever,” and spectators are in for a treat as over 18 million flowers make their way down the 5.5 miles of the route.

For viewers at home, multiple networks make it easy to catch every petal and note. KTLA-5, ABC, NBC, Great American Family, RFD TV, and Univision broadcast the parade live, offering plenty of options to tune in.

If you’re not local and want to stream it, you can find the Rose Parade live right here:

Platform	Price	Channels Included
Hulu + Live TV	$82.99/mo	ABC, NBC, GFA
YouTube TV	$72.99/mo	ABC, NBC, Univision
Sling TV (Blue)	$45/mo	NBC (select markets)
Peacock	$7.99/mo	NBC
Fubo TV	$79.99/mo	NBC, ABC, Univision

How to watch the Rose Bowl from outside the U.S.

To fully enjoy the Rose Bowl from abroad, a virtual private network (VPN) is a necessary tool for accessing U.S.-only streaming services. A VPN disguises your location, allowing platforms like Hulu to work as if you were within the United States.

Beyond unblocking content, VPNs help protect personal data, ensuring secure connections on public Wi-Fi networks, which is especially useful if you're traveling.

For optimal performance, look for VPNs that have servers that are optimized for streaming. These servers reduce lag, preventing buffering during critical moments of the game.

Surfshark offers affordable plans that cover unlimited devices — perfect if you want to watch the game on your phone and laptop simultaneously.

How to use a VPN to watch the Rose Bowl

Every VPN is different, so there may be extra steps for your service. To watch the Rose Bowl, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Open your server menu for servers based in the U.S.
3. Choose a U.S. server.
4. Connect to the server.
5. Open a streaming app and watch ESPN.

The Rose Bowl schedule

Kickoff for the 111th Rose Bowl will take place in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Always played on New Year's Day, except for Sundays, the 2025 Rose Bowl will be played Wednesday, Jan. 1. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET (5 p.m. ET.) The teams participating in the 2025 Rose Bowl have not yet been decided. One team will be chosen on Selection Day, Dec. 8, while the other must win their first round game in the CFP.

FAQs

Bottom line

Whether you're enjoying the game from the U.S., Canada, or halfway across the globe, streaming services make it easy to catch all of the Rose Bowl action. Platforms like Hulu ensure fans can experience every thrilling play and every float on parade day.

Thanks to premium VPNs, even international viewers can catch all the excitement without interruption. Tune into ESPN and immerse yourself in a celebration that brings sports, tradition, and entertainment together like no other.