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Each year, politicians and pundits get ready to trade their podiums for punchlines at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. With the event airing on a cable network, you may be wondering how to watch the White House Correspondents’ dinner live for free yourself—luckily, we’ve got some helpful options to consider up ahead.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an annual event held in Washington, D.C., typically attended by journalists, politicians, celebrities, and other prominent figures. Otherwise known as “Nerd Prom,” the event is organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association, a group of journalists who cover the White House and the President of the United States.
Dating back to 1921, the dinner has evolved from from a small gathering of correspondents and officials into a major social event, serving as an opportunity for journalists, politicians, and celebrities to come together in a less formal setting. In recent years, the dinner has often included a charitable component, with proceeds from ticket sales or auctions going to support journalism scholarships or other causes related to media education and freedom of the press.
Tamara Keith, White House correspondent for NPR, told Deadline in 2023 that the event has “proven to be a very important gathering for Washington.” She went on to explain, “It is our biggest and primary way of raising money both for the scholarship and the work that the WHCA does on a daily, hourly basis to improve the ability of journalists to do their jobs. And also, it is a celebration of the First Amendment, and all of those people in that room are tacitly endorsing the need for journalists to ask tough questions.”
The President and First Lady are often in attendance at the dinner. Beginning with Calvin Coolidge in 1924, every president has attended at least one WHCA dinner during their presidency except for Donald Trump. Traditionally, the event sees the POTUS deliver some remarks poking fun at themselves, the media, and other current events. The event also typically features a comedic roast of the president and other political figures. In recent years, the dinner has garnered significant media attention for its high-profile attendees and speakers, with comedians such as Keegan-Michael Key, Jimmel Kimmel, and Trevor Noah serving as hosts in the past.
This year’s White House Correspondents’ dinner promises another night full of laughter and camaraderie—and like years past, the event will be airing live straight from the Washington Hilton hotel. Luckily, you won’t even need a cable subscription if you want to stream the event. So, if you’re trying to find out how to watch the White House Correspondents’ dinner live for free, keep on reading ahead for our tips.
When is the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
The 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner takes place on Saturday, April 27. The event will air live on C-SPAN beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.
How to watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner live for free
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be aired nationally on C-SPAN, which is available to stream on DirecTV Stream. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starting at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Read on ahead to find out how to watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner live for free using DirecTV Stream.
Watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner live for free for its free trial, price and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first 2 months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first 2 months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month. C-SPAN is available on all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner live for free with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for C-SPAN and start watching the White House Correspondents’ Dinner!
Where does the White House Correspondents’ Dinner take place?
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally takes place in the nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. Like years past, this year’s dinner venue is at the Washington Hilton hotel, which has become closely associated with the event throughout the years.
Who is hosting the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner host will be Colin Jost, known for his comedic chops as the co-anchor of the “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live. Jost follows in the footsteps of other SNL alumni who have hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, including Seth Meyers and Cecily Strong. Like his predecessors, Jost is expected to bring his unique brand of humor to the event, offering an entertaining take on the state of politics and media in the United States.
“Colin Jost knows how to make Saturday nights funny, and I am thrilled Colin will be live from the nation’s capital as the headline entertainer for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Kelly O’Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and NBC News Senior White House Correspondent, said in a statement.
“His sharp insights perfectly meet this remarkable time of divided politics, and a presidential campaign careening toward a rematch,” her statement continued. “His smart brand of comedy and keen observation will turn up the heat on the national news media and across the political spectrum. A night of laughs and reflections as our dinner honors freedom of the press as a cornerstone of American democracy.”
Who is attending the 2024 White House Correspondents’ dinner?
While details about the 2024 guest list for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner have yet to be released, past attendees have included a diverse array of political figures, celebrities, and media personalities. Tickets to the event are sold only to member news organizations, meaning guests attend on behalf of their respective news organizations.
ABC News invitees have included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Congressman Michael McCaul, alongside actors like Liev Schreiber. CBS News previously brought on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Chris Wray, and Senators Mark Warner and Nancy Mace as guests to the event, alongside Hollywood stars like Rosario Dawson and BD Wong. NBC News has seen the likes of Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, UN ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, and John Legend and Chrissy Teigen among their guests. Meanwhile, NPR has contributed to the event by inviting Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, ensuring a blend of political, cultural, and journalistic perspectives at the dinner.
The White House Correspondents’ dinner airs on Saturday, April 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET on C-SPAN.