As I watch sports on different channels now, I remember when NBCSN was my go-to destination for NASCAR, Premier League soccer, and other sporting events. While NBC shut down this dedicated sports network in early 2022, the content didn’t disappear. Today, I can still find all these sports programs spread across various NBC-affiliated channels. Let me explain where to find them.
In a hurry? Any streaming service that provides you with NBCUniversal channels (especially NBC and USA). These are our favorites:
- 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
The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) was meant to be NBCUniversal’s version of ESPN. The network carried a variety of events such as weekly NASCAR races and Premier League soccer matches. But it never really did reach the heights of ESPN or FS1 or CBSSN.
In early 2021, NBC announced that it would shut down NBCSN at the end of the year. As a result, it is shifting where the content is shown. In particular, USA will now show a lot more sports and be the primary home of English-language EPL coverage.
Note that the national network NBC Sports Network has been shut down. NBC also provides a number of regional sports networks (RSNs). These are channels that cover sports in a particular area for fans in that area. They are normally the home of most (in some cases all) games played by local teams in MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. They also offer other coverage including college and even high school games.
- NBC Sports California: Oakland Athletics (MLB), Sacramento Kings (NBA), San Jose Sharks (NHL), San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
- NBC Sports Bay Area: San Francisco Giants (MLB), Golden State Warriors (NBA), San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
- NBC Sports Philadelphia: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Monumental Sports Network: Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Mystics (WNBA)
- NBC Sports Boston: Boston Celtics (NBA), New England Revolution (MLS)
- NBC Sports Chicago: Chicago White Sox (MLB), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL).
How to Substitute for NBCSN Without Cable
NBCSN was an all-sports cable channel. It has not been replaced with a different single channel. The main thing that has happened is that NBCUniversal has moved the most important content from NBCSN and put it on USA Network. Content will also move to NBC itself, Golf Channel, and Tennis Channel.
A lot of stuff that would have aired on NBCSN will appear on NBC’s streaming service Peacock. Much of that will be simulcast on its live channels but a large amount will also be exclusive.
There are four primary streaming services that offer NBCUniversal channels. These services offer a variety of other sports channels such as Fox Sports 1 (FS1), ESPN, and CBS Sports Network. You’ll also likely be able to get access to NBC as well as the regional NBC Sports networks.
Fubo (formerly FuboTV)
NBCSN alternatives are available on all Fubo packages. The cheapest is the Pro Plan for $79.99/month. This provides you with over 150 channels including ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, and CBS Sports Network.
For this price, you also get any of the NBC Sports RSNs in your region. So if you live in San Francisco, you will get NBC Sports Bay Area as well as NBC Sports California.
Fubo also comes with unlimited cloud DVR storage. And you can stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously so there is no problem if people in your household can’t agree on what to watch.
For all the details, see our complete Fubo review.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has a base Entertainment package for $86.99/month, which includes NBC, USA, as well as other sports channels like ESPN and FS1.
You may want to upgrade to the Choice plan for $114.99/month, however. This also gets you MLB Network and NBA TV. But more important, it gives you access to pretty much all of the RSNs throughout the nation — many more than from Hulu + Live TV or even FuboTV.
All DIRECTV STREAM plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage as long as you sign-up online. That isn’t a lot but you can upgrade it to unlimited for an extra $10/mo. More impressive, however, is that DIRECTV STREAM provides the ability to watch on unlimited devices at home and 3 on the road. This is a great thing for large households.
For more information, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.
SlingTV
NBC and USA are available through the Sling Blue package for $45.99/month. This includes the FS1, NFL Network, TBS, TNT, and 35+ other channels.
If you want, you can get the Blue-Orange plan for $60.99/month and this includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Or you can add the Sports Extra package for $11/mo. This gives you 12 more sports channels including NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.
The Blue plan comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR and the ability to stream on up to 3 devices at the same time. See our Sling TV review for all the details.
Hulu + Live TV
As with FuboTV, you’ll get access to the major national sports channels: CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and FS2 through Hulu + Live TV. In total, you get 85+ live channels for $82.99/month.
Additionally, Hulu offers the same NBC Sports RSNs as does FuboTV (although FuboTV offers others as well). And it comes with unlimited DVR (9 month storage) and streaming on 2 simultaneous screens.
Finally, all Hulu + Live TV subscribers get ESPN+ and Disney+ with the base price. See our Hulu + Live TV review for more information.
Other Ways to Substitute NBCSN
Youtube TV does offer NBC and USA with its base plan for $82.99/month. You will also get the standard national sports channels: CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and FS2.
All the sports that air on NBCUniversal channels are available through the NBC Sports app, which you can download to most streaming devices. However, you will need to log in with TV Everywhere using your cable or streaming service provider before you can use it to watch.
TVs and Other Streaming Devices to Watch NBCSN
Most likely, whatever TV or streaming device you have will be fine to watch NBCSN.
All of the streaming services we’ve discussed above work on these devices:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android mobile devices
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)
- Roku
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Web browsers.
All the services except for DIRECTV STREAM work on smart TVs from LG, Vizio, and those based on Android TV. They also support the Xbox One gaming system.
Hulu + Live TV also supports the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
DIRECTV STREAM also has its own streaming device for $120 or $5/mo for 24 months, which may be convenient.
There are other devices supported. If you have questions, check with our reviews linked to above.
Wrapping Up
NBCSN was a national cable network that was designed to compete with networks such as ESPN and FS1. Most of the major streaming services offer the NBCUniversal channels that are now showing the same content. So it should be no problem getting it with the right package for you.
FAQs
Is NBCSN shut down?
It was reported in early 2021 that NBCSN would be shutting down as of the start of 2022. Not much was said about it through the year. We did see that during the Tokyo Olympics, NBCSN was mostly an afterthought. The truth is that NBCSN never became as competitive with ESPN and FS1 as NBCUniversal had hoped. And without much notice, NBCSN ended with the year.
However, this does not mean NBC Sports is going away. It still has contracts with NASCAR and EPL and other events. Coverage will continue. So even though NBCSN may be gone, the broader NBC Sports is just restructuring.
Going forward, major events will be shifted to other channels that are controlled by NBCUniversal — specifically the USA Network. And USA is available in more homes than NBCSN was, so this reorganization effort will likely allow events to be seen by a greater number of people.
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My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.
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