Award shows bring A-list celebrities, red-carpet fashions and all the top movies, music, TV shows and more right to your living room. No matter what type of entertainment you love or which stars you adore, there is sure to be a program that highlights your favorites.
Better still, you can catch every one of the top award programs for free. Check out these leading award shows you can enjoy live and totally free with an over-the-air TV antenna.
The Critics Choice Awards
The Critics Choice Association comprises nearly 500 broadcast, radio and online critics and entertainment journalists that review films, documentaries and television programs. The Critics Choice award is one of the ceremonies the group holds to honor the finest in movies. Awards are given in several categories, such as best picture, best actor, best director and best screenplay.
How to watch on OTA TV: Catch the Critics Choice Awards with your antenna on The CW on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. ET, with a delayed PT broadcast following.
The Bounce Trumpet Awards
The Trumpet Awards were first introduced in 1993 to recognize the accomplishments of Black humanitarians who have overcome odds of racism and poverty to achieve greatness. Special honors are awarded to some of the biggest names in television, film, music, politics and the arts, not only for what they have achieved but also for the inspiration they have given others.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can watch the Trumpet Awards on the OTA network Bounce. The date for 2023 has yet to be determined.
The Academy Awards
Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences votes on the most outstanding individual or collective film achievements in various prestigious categories, including best picture, best actor and actress, best original score and many more. The winners in each category receive a golden statuette, better known as an Oscar. This is arguably the top awards show in the entire entertainment business and you can watch it free with an OTA antenna.
How to watch on OTA TV: Catch the Oscars on ABC on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.
The Daytime Emmy Awards
This award program recognizes top entertainment in various genres of daytime TV, such as soaps, talk shows, culinary shows, courtroom shows and many more. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has administered the Daytime Emmy Awards since 1974.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can view the Daytime Emmys on your local CBS station. The date and time for 2023’s edition have not yet been announced, but the award ceremony usually occurs in June.
The Grammy Awards
The Recording Academy, which represents performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and music professionals, administers this top award. The Grammys are considered the highest honor in the music industry. More than 80 categories are voted on, including record, artist and song of the year, best new artist and many others. The show itself is always full of great fashion and memorable live performances by nominees and industry icons.
How to watch on OTA TV: Watch the Grammy Awards on CBS on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET.
CMT Music Awards
The fan-voted CMT Music Awards were initially named for the Country Music Television (CMT) network, which is only available on cable. However, the ceremony, which honors top country music videos and television shows, is moving to CBS. The star-studded, performance-heavy show launches Country Music Week.
How to watch on OTA TV: The date for the 2023 CMT Music Awards has not yet been announced, but it usually airs on CBS in April.
The Emmy Awards
The Emmys are the top awards for artistic and technical merit in the television industry. Along with the Grammys, Oscars and Tonys, it is considered one of the four leading awards in the American entertainment industry. Members of the Television Academy vote for the best entries in primetime viewing, including shows of all genres and made-for-TV movies and specials.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can watch the Emmy Awards on NBC, and though the time and date for 2023 have yet to be determined, the show is usually in September.
The American Music Awards
The American Music Awards, or AMAs, is the world’s largest fan-voted award show representing the top achievements in music. The program provides virtually non-stop music from top performers, memorable pop culture moments and, of course, award presentations.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can catch the American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST on ABC.
CMA Awards
Each year, members of the Country Music Association determine nominees and winners of this award show, first held in 1967. The CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC the following year, making it the longest-running annual music awards program on network TV. In 2006, the show moved to ABC.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can view the CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
The People’s Choice Awards
Not limited to a sole type of entertainment, this live award show celebrates an array of categories such as movies, television, music and pop culture. Fans worldwide choose from eight nominees in each of the 40 categories. Although the award ceremony has occurred since 1975, winners were initially determined using Gallup Polls. Online voting started in 2005.
How to watch on OTA TV: You can watch the People’s Choice Awards on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
Make plans to take a break from the ordinary, everyday doldrums and enjoy a vicarious red-carpet experience from your sofa. With a good over-the-air antenna, you can get in on all of the glitz, glamour and entertainment as it happens live.
