As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, ABC News and its Disney media partners are airing a live television event tonight to coincide with New York City’s annual Tribute in Light memorial.
The one-hour program, “9/11 Tribute in Light: Live From Lower Manhattan,” airs at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday, Sept. 11. Besides its cable broadcast, the special is available to stream for free on multiple streaming platforms including DIRECTV and Fubo.
What is ‘9/11 Tribute in Light: Live From Lower Manhattan?’
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum describes the broadcast as a first-of-its-kind national commemoration timed to coincide with the annual Tribute in Light installation. The program will air live from lower Manhattan as the memorial’s twin beams illuminate the New York City skyline. The special is expected to serve as the culmination of the day’s remembrance activities and will focus on reflection, remembrance and the enduring impact of the events of Sept. 11.
The special is significant because it arrives during the milestone 25th anniversary year of the attacks. On Sept. 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked by terrorists affiliated with al Qaeda. Two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one struck the Pentagon in Virginia, and another crashed near Shanksville, Pa., after passengers intervened. A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks.
The event will be hosted by ABC News anchors David Muir, Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer.
‘9/11 Tribute in Light: Live From Lower Manhattan’ free streaming
Those seeking a cable alternative for tonight’s special can access the program through streaming services that carry ABC.
Fubo offers a free trial (up to 5 days) for new subscribers. Fubo’s Pro plan starts at $63.99 for the first month unless canceled beforehand.
Besides access to ABC, Fubo includes cloud DVR functionality and streaming on a variety of connected devices. The service’s Pro plan includes unlimited DVR storage and support for watching on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices.
DIRECTV Stream carries local ABC stations, and offers new customers a 5-day free trial. DIRECTV pricing begins at $59.99 for the first month afte the trial ends, though the service can also be canceled at any time.
The service includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording, the ability to schedule recordings on one device and watch them on another, and streaming across multiple compatible devices.
Viewers can stream the special on the Disney+ and Hulu for a $50% discount over the cost of subscribing to each streaming service individually. Disney+ does not offer a free trial, and the bundled plan begins at $11.99 per month.