NBC on Roku: 7 Best Ways to Watch Without Cable

Watching NBC live on a Roku without cable is a fairly straightforward process for cord-cutters. 

But if you think that you can just add the NBC app to your Roku and start watching live TV, there is a catch: you still need a pay-tv provider. The good news is that you have a wide variety of options to watch your favorite NBC primetime shows, reality TV and live sports.

Just as NBC roared into broadcasting in the 1920s, it’s carving a new path in the streaming realm. It continues to carry longtime favorites such as ‘Saturday Night Live’, NFL games and new shows like ‘Chicago Fire.’

For those ditching cable or considering it, this guide unpacks various ways to live stream NBC’s full lineup, including news and sports, on Roku. I am covering all bases, ensuring you stay connected with your preferred NBC entertainment.

You can choose either a live TV streaming service that carries NBC, or add a TV antenna and compatible OTA DVR to watch your local station for free. Peacock is your cheapest option out of these seven best options that I am rounding up. Here is everything you need to know to start watching NBC, NBC News and NBC Sports live on Roku without a pricey cable or satellite subscription.

How to Watch NBC Live on Roku

To add Roku channels with a focus on accessing NBC content, follow these concise step-by-step instructions:

1. Turn on Your Roku Device or Roku TV: Ensure your Roku device or Roku TV is connected and turned on.
2. Access the Home Screen: Using your Roku remote, navigate to the home screen if you are not already there.
3. Select ‘Streaming Channels’: On the home screen, scroll to and select “Streaming Channels”. This will open the Channel Store.
4. Search for NBC: Once you’re in the Channel Store, there’s a search option where you can type “NBC” or the specific NBC related service you are looking for, like “NBC Sports” or “Peacock” for NBCUniversal’s streaming service. (Peacock is generally the most comprehensive option.)
5. Add the Channel: After you find the NBC channel or service you’re interested in, select it, and then choose “Add Channel”. If it’s a paid channel or service, you might need to purchase it or enter your subscription details.
6. Confirm & Access the Channel: Once the channel is added, it should now appear on your home screen among your other channels. Select it from the home screen to start streaming content.

Remember, the availability of NBC or its affiliate services may depend on your region. For more detailed instructions or troubleshooting, refer to the Roku TV User Guide or Roku’s support resources.

Peacock

When it comes to streaming NBC shows or a live, local NBC channel on Roku, Peacock is the easiest and most cost-effective solution. 

Subscribers to Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $11.99 per month, get 24/7 access to their local NBC station. Peacock made all 210 local NBC affiliates available through Peacock. 

If you don’t need a live TV channel, you can watch the latest NBC shows for much less with the Premium Plus plan. Premium Plus subscribers get new episodes of popular NBC shows such as “The Voice” and “Chicago Fire.” 

There is a variety of live sports on Peacock, including Sunday Night Football, Notre Dame Football, Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR and WWE events make up some of the sports you can watch.

Premium subscribers get full access to Peacock Originals such as Poker Face and Twisted Metal. You can watch other live channels such as NBC News Now, Hallmark Channel, and on-demand shows from MSNBC.

A subscription to Peacock Premium is $5.99 per month.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) offers four ways to watch NBC on Roku or Roku TVs without cable.

The Entertainment package has more than 75 live TV channels for $79.99 per month. Subscribers can watch TV on unlimited screens within your home.

ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1 are included in the channel lineup. Discovery, Lifetime, MSNBC and Paramount Network are among the entertainment channels. You get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows.

The Choice package adds regional sports channels, including regional NBC Sports networks and harder to find RSNs such as YES Network and NESN. Choice subscribers get more than 105 channels for $108.99 per month. 

The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including local channels, and more sports and entertainment channels. The Ultimate package is $119.99 per month. The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as Max, Cinemax and Showtime. A subscription to Premier is $164.99 per month.

Fubo

Fubo, once known as fuboTV, offers Roku users three distinct subscriptions that stream local NBC channels live.

The Pro plan includes 189 channels such as ESPN, FX, CNBC, and a selection of sports networks including ACC Network, and Big Ten Network. In most markets, Fubo provides access to ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Fubo subscriptions also offer various add-ons and channel choices.

You’ll also find AMC, HGTV, Food Network, and others among its entertainment channels. 

Fubo’s three plans—Pro, Elite, and Ultimate—come with a 7-day free trial, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage, and the ability to stream live TV on 10 screens simultaneously. 

Subscriptions start at $79.99 monthly with additional regional sports fees. 

The Elite plan offers 65 extra channels at $89.99 monthly, while Ultimate boasts 231 channels, including Showtime, for $99.99 monthly. Fubo also provides a library of on-demand content accessible via Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Smart TVs, and mobile apps.

Sling TV

Sling TV is an affordable way to watch NBC on Roku and Roku TVs, 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:

1. Chicago
2. Boston
3. Dallas/Fort Worth
4. Miami/Fort Lauderdale
5. Hartford/New Haven
6. Los Angeles
7. New York
8. Philadelphia
9. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
10. Washington, DC
11. San Diego

Sling Blue costs $40 per month. You will get NFL Network, A&E, FX, MGM+ Drive-In, MTV, SyFy and TLC 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.

YouTube TV

Roku owners can consider subscribing to YouTube TV, which offers NBC stations and NBC regional sports networks.

For $72.99 per month, subscribers get more than 128 live channels and unlimited Cloud DVR. Subscribers get local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations.  

The channel lineup includes ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, Golf Channel, MLB Network, and NBA TV.

Alongside these, you’ll find NFL Network, SEC Network, SportsNet NY, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Bay Area, and NBC Sports Boston as part of the base plan, representing just some of the NBC Sports Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) included as in-market channels.

You can watch TV or on-demand content on up to three screens at once. 

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.

The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is a must-have for enthusiasts of older NBC shows, and the latest national news. 

The Roku Channel offers NBC News Now and a selection of NBC-licensed shows like “Murder, She Wrote,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “Saved By the Bell,” and “Bad Girls Club.” 

Additionally, it features specialized channels like TNBC (Teen NBC) with youth-oriented shows including “Punky Brewster,” Universal Crime channel with suspenseful legacy content like “The Rockford Files,” as well as Universal Action and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

The Roku Channel has over 350 live TV channels, an extensive selection of free movies and TV shows, and even features discontinued HBO shows from Warner Bros. Discovery.

For those transitioning from traditional cable, The Roku Channel serves as an ideal gateway to a cable-free lifestyle. 

Watch NBC Live for free with a TV Antenna

My favorite way to watch NBC live on both my Roku streaming devices and through my Roku TV is with a TV antenna. 

If you own a Roku TV, then you can plug a TV antenna into the back of your TV. Head over to ‘TV inputs’ and then ‘Live TV’ under the Settings Tab and scan for over-the-air channels.

If you have a Roku streaming stick or a Roku Ultra you can plug a TV antenna into a few kinds of over-the-air DVRs. There are specific models that make your antenna channels available on pretty much any screen that’s connected to your Wi-Fi Network, including your televisions. 

If you are not that tech-savvy, I think the new 4th generation Tablo over the air DVR is the easiest way you can add local TV channels like NBC to a Roku streaming device.

The DVR does not require any kind of subscription. You get a really nice channel guide and it includes more than 60 free ad-supported streaming channels that carry Classic TV, movies and more recent TV shows.

Given all these options for watching live NBC stations on Roku, you should be able to find one to best fit your budget and TV-viewing needs.

UPDATE: Fubo has raised its prices by $5 per month on its three main bundles; Pro, Elite and Premium as of January 10.