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On July 13, 1985, a group of global superstars teamed up to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by performing at Live Aid, a benefit concert that spanned from London to Philadelphia. For the 40th anniversary of the concert, CNN is airing a new original series entitled Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World, taking viewers behind the scenes of one of the largest global music events in history, and diving into its far-reaching impact.
The four-part docuseries in co-production with the BBC tells the story of how a smaller fundraising effort blew up into a global campaign, turning Bob Geldof from a fading rock star into a world-renowned activist. The series also digs into how his efforts helped inspire the likes of Bono, whose advocacy work was instrumental in launching PEPFAR, a U.S. foreign aid initiative that’s credited with saving over 26 million lives.
Featuring interviews with iconic figures including Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins and Lionel Richie along with global leaders including George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, President Obasanjo and Tony Blair, the series will also show rare archival footage of performances and backstage interviews with Paula Yates, Boy George, Status Quo and George Michael.
From Band Aid to “We Are the World” and the indelible impact of Live Aid, if you’re looking to watch the new episode of Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World on July 20, read on. Here’s how you can tune in to watch the last two parts of the CNN docuseries for free, live with a free trial of DIRECTV.
The new episode of Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World premieres on CNN on Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Two additional episodes will follow at 9 p.m. ET/ PT on Sunday, July 27 and Sunday, August 3. If you don’t have cable, we recommend getting a TV streaming service like DIRECTV to watch the series.
DIRECTV lets you access major networks, local channels, and regional networks over your home’s WiFi. That means no satellite dish or clunky cable box. Instead, DIRECTV offers a Gemini Air device, which is a dedicated streaming device powered by Google that brings all your services and apps together into one experience. If you choose to stream DIRECTV on your own device, you can test out the service with a five-day free trial before committing to a subscription, so you can watch Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World for free online. Use the free trial to watch live TV over the internet, from your computer, tablet, phone or smart TV unit.
The four-part docuseries will be shown on CNN, and DIRECTV offers access to that channel in their ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER packages. Here are the four packages available and their pricing based on your budget needs:
The ENTERTAINMENT package is the base DIRECTV package. It carries national and local channels, including CNN, Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN, and ABC for solid coverage (you’ll want the CHOICE plan below for more coverage). This package is currently $79.99/mo.* for 24 mos. + taxes & fees ($89.99/mo. for 24 mos. w/ $10/mo. Gemini lease fee) and includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording.
CHOICE is DIRECTV’s most popular not just for entertainment fans, but sports fans as well. It includes ENTERTAINMENT channels plus specialty sports channels like MLB Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, and more. The CHOICE package is currently $79.99/mo.* for 24 mos. + taxes & fees ($107.98/mo. for 24 mos. w/ req’d Regional Sports Fee of up to $17.99/mo. & $10/mo. Gemini lease fee) and includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording.
The ULTIMATE package includes everything in CHOICE (including CNN), plus sports and movie channels like CBS Sports Network, Discovery Family, FX Movie Channel, NHL Network, STARZ Encore, and more. ULTIMATE is available right now for $104.99/mo.* for 24 mos. + taxes & fees ($132.98/mo. for 24 mos. w/
req’d Regional Sports Fee of up to $17.99/mo. & $10/mo. Gemini lease fee) and includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording.
The PREMIER package includes everything in ULTIMATE, as well as premium networks like Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax. Right now, it’s available for $144.99/mo.* for 24 mos. + taxes & fees ($172.98/mo. for 24 mos. w/ req’d Regional Sports Fee of up to $17.99/mo. & $10/mo. Gemini lease fee) and includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording.
Watch the trailer for Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World below:
