2025 ESPYs with Shane Gillis: Free Streaming, Air Time & Nominee Rundown
Fantastic, just what we needed: another awards show guided by a stand-up comedian whose name you’re still trying to pronounce. Shane Gillis is set to steer the 2025 ESPY Awards when they air live Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC. If you’re wondering how to catch all the sports drama without dropping a dime, here’s the rundown a grumpy guru can’t believe you still need.
Gillis steps into the host chair after drawing headlines in 2019 for off-color comments that cost him a spot on a certain sketch comedy show. His hire comes courtesy of Disney’s synergy machine, pairing ESPN’s flagship event with ABC’s broadcast might. Expect his sarcastic patter to collide with the sports world’s finest athletes on one stage. Industry insiders at New York Post and ESPN.com note this pick aims to shake up the ESPYs’ usual polished vibe.
You don’t have to own a cable package to tune in. Every local ABC affiliate will carry the ceremony at the same 8 p.m. kickoff. For those living in cord-cut land, log in to ABC.com or the ABC app using any participating TV provider credentials. If you lack those, streaming services like fuboTV, YouTube TV or Hulu Live TV offer free trial periods ranging from seven to ten days—plenty of time to press play on the big night and cancel before the billing cycle kicks in.
ESPN+ subscribers get a bit more than just the main event. The red carpet pre-show coverage begins at 6 p.m. Eastern on the ESPN app and ESPN2, featuring interviews with nominees and behind-the-scenes segments. Highlights will roll out across ESPN’s digital platforms after the show wraps, so you can relive the biggest laughs or face-palm moments without replaying the entire three-hour production.
Athletic excellence takes center stage in more than a dozen categories. Top contenders for Best NFL Player include Patrick Mahomes and Justin Jefferson, while the Best Women’s Athlete field features Naomi Osaka and Megan Rapinoe. Breakthrough Athlete nods point to rising stars like Eileen Gu in freestyle skiing and Victor Wembanyama in basketball. Voting remains open through July 18 on ESPN.com, so if you want to influence the outcome, you know what to do.
Whether you’re in it for Gillis’s edgy one-liners or the chance to see Simone Biles possibly another record-breaker moment, this guide covers your free-to-watch options. Don’t lose sight of the clock—set a reminder, claim those free trials, and bookmark your ESPN voting page. And remember, if you miss it, highlights are never more than a few clicks away.
Enjoy the show or don’t. I’m off to find some peace and quiet now that my public service announcement is done.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, ESPN, ABC
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
