You're standing in the kitchen, ticket in hand, heart doing that weird little fluttery thing. It's almost 11:00 PM. The jackpot is massive—one of those "I’m buying a private island and a fleet of jet skis" numbers. But then it hits you. You have no idea where to actually see the balls drop.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a scramble every draw night.
Finding out what channel is the powerball drawing on depends almost entirely on where you’re sitting right now. Since the drawing happens at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee, the feed gets beamed out to local stations across 45 states. If you're looking for a quick answer: the drawing happens at 10:59 PM ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
The TV Stations: Finding Your Local Feed
Most people still prefer the old-school thrill of watching it on the tube. It feels more official, right?
In most regions, your best bet is a major network affiliate like ABC, CBS, or NBC. For example, if you’re in New York, you’re likely looking at WABC-7 or Spanish-language coverage on Univision. Down in Florida, where the magic actually happens, it’s often on stations like WFOR in Miami or WFTV in Orlando.
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A Quick State-by-State Look
Because it's a "multi-state" game, there isn't one single national cable channel that owns the rights. It's a patchwork. In Iowa, you’re tuning into KWWL or KTIV. Over in Louisiana, the lottery uses a dedicated network including WVUE Fox 8 in New Orleans and WBRZ+ in Baton Rouge.
If you’re in a state like California, the lottery often doesn't broadcast a "live" draw show on a traditional TV channel anymore. They've shifted heavily toward digital. This drives people crazy, but it’s the way the wind is blowing.
Streaming the Drawing Online
Maybe you cut the cord. Most of us have.
If you don't have a digital antenna or a cable package, you aren't out of luck. The official Powerball website, powerball.com, usually has a live stream link that goes active right around 10:45 PM ET. It’s basic, it’s a little laggy sometimes, but it’s the source of truth.
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YouTube is the other big player here. The Powerball Official YouTube channel (often listed under the handle @Powerballofficial) streams the drawings. They also archive them. So, if you fell asleep on the couch and woke up at 2:00 AM wondering if you’re a millionaire, you can just scroll back through their "Videos" tab.
Many state-specific lottery apps, like the ones in Virginia or Georgia, have a "Watch the Draw" button built right into the interface. It’s actually pretty slick. You can check your numbers and watch the stream without leaving the app.
Why 10:59 PM Matters
You might notice some sites say 11:00 PM and others say 10:59 PM.
The actual draw process starts at exactly 10:59 PM Eastern Time. However, there’s a lot of "behind the scenes" stuff that happens before you see those numbered spheres bouncing around.
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The draw machines (they’re called Halogen II machines, for the nerds out there) are kept in a high-security vault. Two different sets of balls are weighed and inspected before every single draw. An independent auditor from a firm like Marcum LLP has to stand there and certify that everything is legit.
If there’s a technical glitch—which happened famously a couple of years ago—the drawing gets delayed. When that happens, the feed won’t appear on your local news. You’ll just see a "results pending" message on the website.
What About Double Play?
Don't get confused by the second drawing. If you paid the extra dollar for the "Double Play" option, that drawing happens about 30 to 45 minutes after the main one.
Double Play isn't usually televised on your local news. It’s almost exclusively an online thing. You’ll find those results on the website or the YouTube channel around 11:35 PM ET. It’s a separate machine, a separate set of balls, and a top prize of $10 million that doesn't roll over.
Actionable Steps for Tonight
Before the clock hits the deadline, here is exactly what you should do to ensure you don't miss the moment:
- Check the Cut-off: Most states stop selling tickets at 10:00 PM ET on draw nights. If it's 10:05 PM, you're playing for the next draw, not tonight's.
- Identify Your Stream: If you’re on mobile, bookmark the Powerball YouTube "Live" tab at 10:50 PM.
- Verify the Date: It sounds silly, but people watch "Live" streams that are actually recordings from three years ago all the time. Check the date on the screen.
- Sign the Ticket: Regardless of what the TV says, sign the back of your ticket immediately. If it's a winner, that signature is the only thing that proves it's yours.
If your local news station skips the drawing for a weather report or a breaking news story, don't panic. The numbers are usually posted on the official sites within 5 to 10 minutes of the balls being drawn. Keep your ticket in a safe spot, stay calm, and remember that the odds are about 1 in 292 million—but somebody has to win.