I’m thinking about getting rid of cable, and it seems like a smart move. I can still watch NBC online and enjoy all my favorite shows — including the NFL playoffs — without a cable subscription, and for much less money. In fact, it might even be free.
In a hurry? If you just want to start watching NBC without cable, these three streaming services should do the job:
- Fubo: With 150+ channels, it offers something for everyone. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
- DIRECTV STREAM: Provides everything you expect from cable with many options. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Sling TV: Probably the best streaming service in terms of customization with a super low price and a 50% discount on your first month!
If you can’t watch your favorite sports, TV and movies because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve. Signup now.
Table Of Contents
NBC airs some of the biggest shows on TV: Saturday Night Live, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NFL Sunday Night Football, and many more. If you’re a fan of any of these exclusive shows, then NBC is a must-have channel for you.
You can stream NBC live both online and through digital antennas, saving yourself money and stress in the long run. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how to watch NBC live without cable, covering all services, packages, and devices you’ll need.
How to Watch NBC Online Live Without Cable
There are three basic ways you can watch NBC without a cable or satellite connection.
- Peacock TV: NBC has its very own streaming service! Peacock TV launched in July 2020. It’s another way to watch NBC without cable. And it’s free! (There are also paid plans.) The only problem is that it is primarily an on-demand system; you can’t watch NBC live.
- Live Streaming Services: You can stream NBC live on multiple devices using streaming services like Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, and many more! These services also feature many other channels and act very much like a flexible, cheaper cable subscription.
- Digital Antennas: Over-the-air antennas allow you to catch signals without cable or internet, so you can access channels on your TV! You’ll have to make a small initial investment to purchase an antenna (which usually costs as little as $30) and then you’ve got free TV! No packages, no subscription, no bill!
Below, we’ve covered all three of these options in detail with information about prices, packages, and devices. To find out more about watching NBC without cable, keep on reading.
Streaming Services With NBC
Streaming services are an easy and cost-effective way to watch NBC without cable. They offer an experience similar to using cable TV but are priced differently.
We’ve covered the major services that offer NBC, so you can go through them and choose a package that best suits your needs.
Fubo For NBC
NBCUniversal Channels | Bravo, CNBC, E!, MSNBC, NBC, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA |
Other Local Channels | ABC, CBS, Fox |
Total Channels | 150+ |
Cloud DVR | 1000 hours |
Simultaneous Screens | 10 |
Free Trial | ✅ |
FuboTV Price | $79.99/month |
FuboTV is one of the best streaming services that offers NBC. You can stream NBC live by signing up for their Starter package, which offers 150+ channels for $79.99/month and allows you to stream on 10 devices simultaneously.
It offers the full lineup of NBCUniversal channels as well as all the network affiliates (in the vast majority of areas).
For more information, see our detailed Fubo review.
Sling TV For NBC
NBCUniversal Channels | Bravo, E!, MSNBC, NBC, Syfy, USA |
Other Local Channels | Fox |
Total Channels | 40+ |
Cloud DVR | 50 hours |
Simultaneous Screens | 3 |
Free Trial | ❌ |
Sling TV Price | $45.99/month |
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly way to stream NBC, Sling TV is one of your best bets.
Sling Blue is only $45.99/month and comes with FOX and five of the NBCUniversal channels along with NBC. If you wish, you can get CNBC (News Extra) and Oxygen (Lifestyle Extra) with $6/mo add-ons.
Sling TV also provides the option to use an antenna. If you sign up for two months, they will even give you an antenna for free. Your antenna stations are then integrated with the Sling interface. No need for multiple interfaces.
Find out more with our Sling TV review.
NFL Fans. Take a look at these Sling-specific NFL guides: NFL on Sling, NFL Preseason, NFL RedZone, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football.
DIRECTV STREAM For NBC
NBCUniversal Channels | Bravo, CNBC, E!, MSNBC, NBC, Syfy, USA |
Other Local Channels | ABC, CBS, Fox |
Total Channels | 90+ |
Cloud DVR | Unlimited* |
Simultaneous Screens | Unlimited |
Free Trial | ✅ |
DIRECTV STREAM Price | $86.99/month |
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is known for its massive channel line-up access to local and regional channels. The service offers NBC along with most of the NBCUniversal and all the local channels.
The only missing NBCUniversal channels are Oxygen and Universal Kids. These are available in the Ultimate plan for $129.99/month which features 160+ channels including HBO MAX for the first year.
See our DIRECTV STREAM review for more details.
Hulu + Live TV For NBC
NBCUniversal Channels | Bravo, CNBC, E!, MSNBC, NBC, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA |
Other Local Channels | ABC, CBS, Fox |
Total Channels | 95+ |
Cloud DVR | Unlimited (9 month storage) |
Simultaneous Screens | 2 |
Free Trial | ❌ |
Hulu Price | $82.99/month |
Hulu + Live TV is one of the most popular streaming services and offers a great way out of expensive cable TV bills. They offer 95+ popular sports, entertainment, and news channels including NBC for $82.99/month.
Like Fubo, Hulu offers the full lineup of NBCUniversal and local channels.
Comparatively, Hulu + Live TV offers less than Fubo in the total number of channels, DVR capacity, and simultaneous streaming. But Hulu makes up for this in its exceptional on-demand library. Which you prefer will depend upon your preferences.
See the following Hulu + Live TV Review for more information on Hulu + Live TV.
Other Ways to Get NBC
Live TV streaming services are a popular way to get NBC but they are not the only way to get it. Here are some others:
- NBC App: This TV Everywhere compatible app allows you to watch on-demand and limited live programming.
- YouTube TV: Another full-featured streaming service, it offers 100+ channels including all the NBCUniversal and local channels. It is comparable to FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Get NBC With an Antenna
Streaming NBC through antennas is affordable and convenient, at least if you are located reasonably close to a transmission tower.
Despite the convenience of online streaming services, don’t dismiss this option. Over the air (OTA) television is not like in the old days. It is all digital and broadcast in HD. And it’s not just the usual channels because now there are subchannels with even more content.
Check out our other articles for more information on using a TV antenna:
- Indoor or Outdoor Antenna? Which Is Best for You…
- HDTV Without Cable – Using a Simple Indoor Antenna
- Best Antennas and DVRs for Cord-Cutters to Never Pay a Cable Bill Again
- How to Connect Multiple TVs to your OTA Antenna.
Stream NBC With Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service. It provides a lot of its shows, movies, and events on-demand.
There are two plans available:
- Peacock Premium ($7.99/month): access to the entire library plus access to live sporting events (Premier League and WWE).
- Peacock Premium Plus ($13.99/month): access to everything without commercials (with some exceptions).
But remember: none of Peacock’s plans offer a live stream of NBC.
TVs and Mobile Devices for NBC
To watch NBC on a streaming service, you need a streaming device that is suitable for that provider. This will be a smart TV, streaming device, mobile, or tablet, to name a few.
For example, most services have supported Samsung smart TVs for the last 5 years.
Additionally, the following devices are universally supported:
- Amazon Fire TV: Plugs into your TV’s HDMI jack and runs various streaming apps.
- Apple TV: Apple’s version of the Fire stick.
- Roku: Another TV device — one of the earliest.
You can also stream in most web browsers. So if your device has a web browser, you’re fine. Most laptops and computers can also be connected to a TV to transmit the content onto a bigger screen.
Mobile Devices For Streaming NBC
Smartphones and tablets are also supported by most services:
- Android Smartphones: All but the oldest Android devices.
- iOS devices: Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and even some iPods.
When choosing a streaming provider you can check for the exact supported versions on their website.
All the major streaming services support Chromecast. It streams from your phone to your TV.
Gaming Consoles For Streaming NBC
You can watch videos on gaming consoles, so streaming services support them. Except for DIRECTV STREAM, all the services support Xbox. Hulu supports PlayStation and Echo Show, while Sling TV supports Oculus.
Wrapping Up
There are lots of ways to enjoy NBC without being bound to an expensive long-term cable or satellite TV contract. If you don’t care about premium stations, you can just set up an antenna and get NBC and other local channels for free.
Most people prefer a streaming service. For as little as $45.99/month, you can get a streaming service like Sling TV with comparable channels to cable. This is a case where you can actually get better service for less money.
Fubo is our top choice for getting NBC regardless of where you live. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
FAQs
What channels belong to NBCUniversal?
NBCUniversal is an enormous company featuring various divisions which focus on different languages and content. But its primary English-language non-sports channels are as follows:
- Bravo
- CNBC
- E!
- MSNBC
- NBC
- Oxygen
- Syfy
- Universal Kids
- USA.
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