NBC is one of the most popular broadcast networks in the United States, offering a wide variety of entertainment, news, and sports programming. If you’ve cut the cord or never had cable in the first place, you may be wondering how you can access NBC’s content without a traditional cable subscription.
The good news is that there are several streaming options that allow you to watch NBC live, on-demand, or both. In this guide, we’ll walk you through your options for streaming NBC without cable using services like DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Peacock.
Table of Contents
Over-the-Air Antenna
If you live near the broadcast radius of an NBC affiliate station, you can watch NBC for free with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. An antenna picks up the free broadcast signals from major local stations like NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and more.
To find out which NBC station is available in your area, use the FCC’s DTV Reception Maps. Then choose an antenna based on your location – indoor vs. outdoor and the range you need to reach your local broadcast towers.
Pros:
- Completely free
- Access to many local channels beyond just NBC
Cons:
- Limited by broadcast range
- Need equipment (antenna)
Live TV Streaming Services
Live TV streaming services provide a cable-like experience, allowing you to watch NBC live along with many other popular channels. Most services also include cloud DVR so you can record NBC shows to watch later.
Here are some of the most popular live TV streaming options with NBC:
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream‘s base Entertainment package includes NBC along with over 75+ channels for $69.99/month.
Pros:
- Wide channel selection
- Unlimited cloud DVR included
Cons:
- More expensive
- Local channel availability varies
FuboTV
Starting at $69.99/month, FuboTV offers NBC along with over 100 channels. It has a strong focus on sports.
Pros:
- Competitive base package price
- Excellent for sports fans
Cons:
- No TNT, TBS or CNN
- Limited local channel availability
Hulu + Live TV
At $69.99/month, Hulu + Live TV provides NBC along with over 75+ live channels plus Hulu’s on-demand library.
Pros:
- Hulu on-demand included
- Unlimited cloud DVR
Cons:
- $7 more per month than regular Hulu
- Local channel availability varies
Sling TV
Sling TV‘s Sling Blue plan offers NBC and over 40 channels for just $35/month.
Pros:
- Most affordable live TV streaming
- Customizable channel add-ons
Cons:
- Limited local channel availability
- Cloud DVR costs extra
YouTube TV
At $64.99/month, YouTube TV provides NBC along with over 85+ channels.
Pros:
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Best overall channel selection
Cons:
- Limited availability in some areas
- Recently increased in price
Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service. For $4.99/month, Peacock Premium provides next-day access to current seasons of NBC shows plus Peacock’s movie and TV catalog.
Pros:
- Cheapest way to get NBC shows on-demand
- Some live sports & news
Cons:
- No local NBC live streams
- Limited channel selection beyond NBC
Free Options
If you want to sample NBC’s content without paying, there are some free options with limitations:
- NBC website & app: Watch limited recent episodes on-demand for free
- Locast (availability varies by location): Stream local NBC live feed for free
- Pluto TV: Watch select NBC shows and movies on-demand for free
Recommendation
The best option for streaming NBC without cable really depends on your preferences and needs.
If you want the most complete live TV streaming package, I recommend YouTube TV for its best overall channel selection and unlimited DVR.
For NBC shows on-demand plus some live content, Peacock Premium provides the best value at only $4.99/month.
And don’t forget to consider using an over-the-air antenna for watching NBC completely free if you live near a broadcast tower.
No matter which streaming service you choose, you can now access great NBC programming without the constraints of cable. Review the pros and cons of each option to decide the best cord-cutting solution for your household.
