NBC is a local broadcast channel that is available on six live TV streaming services.
You can watch NBC without cable on:
And there are two other ways to watch NBC through a TV antenna, or through the NBC app and website.
You don’t need to sign up for a pricey cable subscription just to watch “Sunday Night Football,” “Chicago P.D.” or “Young Rock.”
This article explains how to watch NBC live on a Smart TV, Roku streaming devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Google Chromecast with Google TV.
How to Watch NBC without cable
There are a number of live TV streaming services that are similar to cable TV subscriptions.
These services are used by cord-cutters to watch local channels and popular cable channels, including AMC, A&E and ESPN.
To get started, you just need an Internet connection. Once you pick a streaming service, and sign up for a free trial, you can download the app to your Smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast or Apple TV.
You can easily cancel a streaming service online, and jump to a competing service whenever you want. Some cord-cutters even jump from platform to platform throughout the year just to catch certain shows.
Here’s a quick look at each of these services.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV carries over 75 TV channels, including A&E, CNN, ESPN, HGTV, USA Network and NBCSN.
Bravo, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Telemundo and USA Network are among the entertainment channels on Hulu. You can watch NBC and other local channels such as ABC, CBS and FOX. For news, there is CNN, MSNBC and FOX News.
Hulu only offers one channel bundle for $69.99 per month and unlimited Cloud DVR storage. You will also get unlimited access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu’s streaming library.
Hulu supports Roku, Fire TV and Fire Stick, XBox One and Xbox 360 consoles, and iOS and Android devices. You can watch TV or on-demand content on two screens at a time.
Look over the channel lineup for Hulu before deciding whether you want to sign up. There is no longer a free trial.
fuboTV
fuboTV has more than 140 channels in its Pro plan, including just about everything you would expect from a cable TV or satellite service.
You can watch NBC in just about every market in the U.S. fuboTV has mainstream entertainment channels like Bravo, Comedy Central, ESPN, Oxygen Network, Paramount Network, USA Network and Hallmark Channel. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR.
Big Ten Network, PAC-12 Network and CBS will give you plenty of college and NFL football to watch. For New England based customers, it’s the best way to watch NESN without cable.
A subscription costs $74.99 per month. You can watch TV or on-demand content on three screens at once.
fuboTV offers select sporting events and TV shows in 4K. There’s a huge on-demand library of movies and TV shows for when you don’t need live TV.
fuboTV works on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV. You should look over the channel lineup for your area before giving fubo a try.
You can sign up for a 7-day free trial if you’re a new customer. There are no contracts or obligations.
Sling TV
Sling TV is an affordable way to watch NBC, but only in a number of TV markets.
Sling TV Blue has about 41 channels, including local NBC stations within its channel lineup in 11 TV markets, or “Designated Market Areas.”
If you live in or around one of these cities, then you should be able to get NBC through Sling Blue:
- Chicago
- Boston
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale
- Hartford/New Haven
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
- Washington, DC
- San Diego
Sling Blue costs $40 per month. You will get NFL Network, A&E, EPIX and MTV as part of the Sling Blue channel lineup.
Sling TV offers 50 hours of free Cloud DVR to all subscribers. All Sling Blue subscribers can watch live TV on three screens at once.
Sling TV works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV (4th generation).
When you sign up for Sling TV, you can get half off for the first month of service. There are no contracts, or extra fees like cable TV.
If you prepay for a brief subscription, you can get a free streaming device.
For a larger lineup of 51 channels, you can combine the Sling Blue plan with the Orange plan for $55 per month. Sling Orange has channels not available on the Blue plan such as ESPN and USA Network.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM carries NBC in its Entertainment channel bundle.
Subscribers get more than 75 channels, including ESPN, TNT, HGTV, USA Network and Hallmark Channel. Local channels include CBS, FOX and ABC.
You get unlimited Cloud DVR for recordings, and 40,000 on-demand shows. You can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once. A subscription costs $74.99 per month.
New customers can choose to get a free trial of HBO Max, Showtime, STARZ, EPIX and Cinemax. The free trial for these premium channels lasts for three months if you keep your subscription.
The regular rate for those four channels kicks in after the three-month free trial ends.
You can watch DIRECTV STREAM on Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast with Google TV and Apple TV.
New customers can get the 5-day free trial without any obligations. Subscriptions run month to month. There are no contracts or obligations.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV offers NBC stations and NBC regional sports networks.
For $64.99 per month, subscribers get more than 85 channels and unlimited Cloud DVR. Subscribers get local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. The channel lineup includes ESPN, Oxygen Network, USA Network, Comedy Central, FOX News, CNN, and Telemundo.
You can watch TV or on-demand content on up to three screens at once. You can add on premium channels such as HBO Max to the base plan.
Subscribers can use Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast. You can also watch TV live on a PC with your subscription. You can get a free 7-day trial.
Peacock
Peacock began live streaming NBC affiliates around the U.S. on November 30, 2022. Subscribers to the Premium Plus plan, which costs $9.99 per month, now get 24/7 access to their local NBC station.
Peacock made all 210 NBC affiliates available through Peacock. This change enables viewers to watch NBC shows live when they air.
Peacock already shows a variety of live sports, including Sunday Night Football, Notre Dame Football, Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR and WWE events.
Peacock Premium subscribers have watched the XXIV Winter Olympics live, and on-demand. Peacock also live streamed Super Bowl LVI.
Peacock has full seasons of “The Voice”, “Saturday Night Live”, “Yellowstone” and “The Office”. New, hit movies such as “Jurassic World: Dominion” are also on the service.
A subscription to Peacock Premium Plus costs $9.99 per month. New customers can sign up for a free 7-day trial of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus.
NBC website and NBC app
Two other ways to get an NBC live stream is through the the NBC app and NBC website. You can use your subscription to YouTube TV, DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, and Hulu Live TV to activate the NBC app or NBC website.
If you subscribe to the Sling Blue package and have NBC as part of your plan, you can also use the NBC app or website to get an NBC live stream.
Watch NBC Live for free with a TV Antenna
Let’s quickly cover how to watch NBC for free without any kind of streaming service.
Using a TV antenna is the least expensive way to get a High Definition signal from local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS stations for free.
People living within 30 to 40 miles of local broadcast towers have an excellent shot at getting local broadcast channels with a quality TV antenna.
You can use the free tool at AntennasDirect to see whether NBC is available in your area. Local channels broadcast digital signals in 1080i or 720p, which is High Definition.
If you are new to TV antennas, here is a list of resources that I have written to get you started.
- How to Choose the Best TV Antenna
- How to Connect Multiple TVs to One Antenna
- Review: The Best Indoor TV Antennas
- Review: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas
How to Watch NBC Without Cable FAQ
Here are questions readers often ask while searching for ways to stream NBC live without a TV provider.
What streaming service has NBC?
fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM and YouTube TV all carry local NBC stations and other broadcast channels. Peacock offers a local NBC live stream to subscribers of their Premium Plus plan.
Is NBC free without cable?
Yes. You can use a TV antenna to watch NBC and other local broadcast channels for free. Other over-the-air channels include PBS, ABC, CBS, FOX and the CW.
How do I stream NBC on my Smart TV?
You can sign up for DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Peacock carries local a NBC stream in its Premium Plus plan.
Smart TV users can also try to get NBC for free by plugging in a TV antenna and scanning for over-the-air channels such as PBS, the CW, and ABC under settings.
Can I subscribe to NBC without cable?
You can subscribe to a local NBC station for $9.99 per month by signing up for Peacock. The Premium Plus plan carries all 210 NBC affiliates across the country, so you can now get your local station.
How do I watch NBC on Roku without cable?
You can get NBC on Roku devices and Roku TVs by signing up for a live TV streaming service. DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and Sling TV all carry NBC within their channel lineups. But plans and pricing does vary among these live TV services.
Can I use the NBC app without cable?
Yes. You can use your DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV subscription to activate the NBC app and watch live TV.
How to stream NBC live on Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV and Fire Stick owners can subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV and Sling TV to watch NBC without cable.
How to watch NBC on Apple TV without cable
You can watch NBC on Apple TV and iOS devices using a live TV streaming service. DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV all live stream NBC.
Does Peacock stream NBC live?
Yes. Peacock is now streaming local NBC stations. You need to sign up for Peacock’s Premium Plus plan to get a local NBC station. A subscription costs $9.99 per month following a free 7-day-trial.
What’s the best way to watch NBC without cable?
DIRECTV STREAM will be the best bet for most people because it has comprehensive coverage of popular cable TV channels, regional sports and local channels.
ESPN, TNT, HGTV, USA Network and Hallmark Channel are included in the channel lineup.
Subscribers pay on a month-to-month basis, so there is no long term commitments. The service has a free 5-day trial.
A subscription costs $74.99 per month and includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage for recordings. Take a look at the channel lineup to see if its a good fit.
fuboTV has a robust lineup of 130 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage for recordings and an on-demand library of movies and TV shows. A subscription costs $74.99 per month. fuboTV works on Fire TV, Roku, Apple, on smartphones, tablets and PCs. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial.
For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.
This article was first published Sept. 20, 2017 and has been updated.
Founder and Editor of The Cord Cutting Report. Before launching the site in 2016, he worked for more than two decades as a staff writer or correspondent for a number of daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe. His enthusiasm for tech began with the Atari 2600. Follow @james_kimble
Jennifer, there is plenty of free TV, but this article is titled how to watch TV for FREE… It’s titled ‘how to do it’ without cable!
NBC is free for life after you buy a TV antenna.
we have an antenna and get 4,5,9, but have never gotten 11
My free trial was 14 days. I set my smartphone calendar to the cancellation date. I pick my spots as to when I start/stop free trials as well. The 30-day free trial happened only on launch day.
All I could find is a recent post from someone apparently from youtube that says to contact them through support as there are different trials. I would likely want to make use of a trial. I will probably be going off PVue in early Nov and will start with youtubetv to try it at that point. Thanks.