How to watch the Kentucky Derby 2024

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby

The 150th Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, May 4, with additional coverage throughout the week on the USA Network. Here are the streaming services that currently carry NBC and/or USA Network. 

Watch on Peacock

A Peacock subscription is certainly the most cost-effective way to catch the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Since Peacock streams both NBC and USA Network, you can get all your Kentucky Derby coverage in one place for one low price with the Peacock Premium Plus plan.

Peacock subscribers also gain access to over 50 always-on channels, serving up the best the NBC family of networks has to offer, 24 hours a day. 

Watch on DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM is a great choice for horse racing fans, but if you’re only interested in watching the Kentucky Derby, then it may be a bit too pricey for your liking. DIRECTV STREAM offers three different plans for subscribers to choose from: Entertainment, Choice and Ultimate. Local NBC affiliates for Derby watching are available with all packages.

For additional Kentucky Derby coverage, USA Network and unlimited cloud DVR are included with all DIRECTV STREAM plans. So, if that's your style, you can watch your favorite thoroughbred cross the finish line 100 more times. You can even fast-forward and rewind to help you decipher a photo finish if need be. 

Watch on Fubo

With a Fubo subscription, you’ll be able to tune into over 100 sporting events every single week, including a very special horse race scheduled for Saturday, May 4. Spoiler alert: it’s the Kentucky Derby. Including NBC and USA Network, Fubo's channel lineup is one of the largest in streaming today, with its top-tier plan (Premier) coming equipped with nearly 280 individual channels. 

Fubo doesn’t have unlimited cloud DVR, but 1000 hours is pretty darn good. Fubo is also one of only two streaming services, along with DIRECTV STREAM, that currently includes regional sports networks (RSNs) like NBC Chicago, Bally Sports and more. Who knows? Maybe your regional horse race will be broadcast on Fubo next. 

Watch on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu is many people’s go-to streaming service for a reason, offering one of the best deals in streaming today. With any Hulu + Live TV plan, subscribers not only gain access to 95+ live TV channels and the Hulu on-demand library, but they score ESPN Plus and Disney Plus for no additional cost.

While you don’t need either of the latter to watch the Kentucky Derby, the bundle definitely is appealing to customers who have never tried a streaming service before. Hulu + Live TV was also one of the first streaming services to offer unlimited cloud DVR, which you can begin enjoying the day you sign up. Upgrade to an ad-free plan, and you can even take those DVR recordings offline with you to watch on the go.

Watch on Sling TV

Sling TV offers three affordable plans, but NBC is only available with the Sling Blue plan in select cities. Enter your zip code on the Sling homepage for a list of local channels in your area. That said, catching the Kentucky Derby with Sling TV isn’t impossible. To tune into NBC, Sling TV subscribers outside of the areas that get locals will need to look into purchasing an antenna that can help pick up the local channels in your area, including NBC. Once you have an antenna, you can access these local affiliates through Sling TV for free. 

Luckily, not as many hurdles are required for streaming USA Network. The latter is included in both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange & Blue channel lineups. Sling TV also offers many add-ons, so you can personalize your Sling TV plan to fit your unique content needs. In addition, Sling TV plans come with 50 hours of DVR, which is plenty of space for the Kentucky Derby. 

Watch on YouTube TV

With only one base plan, YouTube TV uncomplicates streaming by offering over 100 premium channels to all its subscribers. Derby fans will be able to tune in on race day and enjoy features like unlimited cloud DVR and Key Plays View, which gives sports fans an up-close-and-personal way to watch their favorite games and events, broken down into the top moments of the day for easy digestion.

Like many competitors, YouTube TV also has an on-demand content library, so you’ll always have plenty of TV to tune into after the Kentucky Derby comes to an end. Plus, YouTube TV takes personalization to a whole new level, giving you the opportunity to create six unique user profiles for your household to enjoy. 

Kentucky Derby schedule 2024

• Friday, May 3 @ 1 p.m. The 150th Kentucky Oaks
• Saturday, May 4 @ 10 a.m. The 150th Kentucky Derby 

*All of the times are Eastern.

FAQ

What is the theme for the Kentucky Derby in 2024?

“Celebrating Derby 150” is the theme for the Kentucky Derby in 2024, which commemorates the tradition of one of the oldest horse races in the U.S. Fans will be able to reminisce about the event’s timeless nature as well as be able to catch a glimpse of what the future of the Kentucky Derby may have in store. 

Who is the favorite for the Kentucky Derby in 2024?

Born and bred in Kentucky, Sierra Leone is currently the favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby, sitting atop the 2023-2024 leaderboard with 155 points. However, others believe the all-out favorite may be Fierceness, the colt who won the Florida Derby in late March. Fierceness currently sits in second place on the leaderboard with 136 points. 

How many horses are in the Kentucky Derby 2024?

According to the Kentucky Derby’s official rules, the race is limited to a total of 20 horses, a rule that was first instituted in the 1970s.