Primetime New Year's Eve Specials
The night kicks off at 8:00 PM ET with Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025 on ABC, featuring live performances from Times Square. This iconic event continues at 10:30 PM and 11:30 PM, hosted by Ryan Seacrest with celebrity guests and the famous ball drop[1][2].
CBS counters with New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash at 8:00 PM ET, a five-hour country music extravaganza starring Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, and CeCe Winans. It's a star-studded alternative for music fans seeking Southern flair[2].
CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen airs at 8:00 PM ET (with earlier segments like 2:45 PM), blending celebrity interviews, toasts, and global festivities for a sophisticated vibe[1].
Holiday Movies and Family Favorites
Hallmark channels shine with romantic specials: Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas (Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes) at 8:00 PM on Hallmark, Making Spirits Bright (Taylor Cole, Carlo Marks) on Hallmark Mystery, and earlier Christmas at the Inn (Jill Wagner, Trevor Donovan) at 4:00 PM on GA Family[1].
Freeform airs Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) at 8:25 PM, a nostalgic hit perfect for families. Starz Encore features New Year's Eve (Halle Berry, Robert De Niro) multiple times, including 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, capturing intersecting New York stories[1][3].
Other gems include When Harry Met Sally (Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan) at 10:00 PM on Starz Encore, Daddy's Home 2 (Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg) on CMT at 4:00 PM, and Disney's Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol at 10:00 AM[1].
Early Evening and Morning Highlights
Start the day with Dear Santa (Jack Black) at 4:45 AM on Showtime 2, followed by Mary Berry's Highland Christmas at 3:30 PM on PBS for a cozy British touch[1].
Afternoon slots include repeats of New Year's Eve on Starz at 3:31 PM and holiday fare like A Bramble House Christmas at 6:00 PM on Hallmark Mystery. These build anticipation for primetime[1].
Viewers should verify local times via providers, as schedules vary. These picks blend nostalgia, music, and merriment, making December 31, 2025, a TV marathon for all ages.