There are numerous ways to watch NBC without having cable or satellite TV. You can even watch your local NBC channel for free using a TV antenna or stream NBC on the free streaming service Locast. You can also stream NBC live on Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and AT&T TV. I cover all these solutions in this article, so read on to learn how to watch NBC without needing a subscription to cable TV.
Best Way To Watch NBC Live Right Now: Use a 7-day free trial to Hulu Live TV or a 7-day free trial to FuboTV. Both work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and more. There is no long-term commitment so you won’t be charged for your first month if you cancel before the free trial expires.
Watch Live NBC For Free
Before we cover the options you have to pay for to watch local NBC, I wanted to cover Locast. Locast streams the local NBC network live in over 42% of households, and it is 100% free. You can even watch Locast using a streaming device. Locast supports Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.
While Locast is technically free, the service does interrupt its broadcast every 15 minutes or so to ask for a donation of $5. If you decide to donate, then the message is removed, and you can watch without solicitation from Locast for donations. Please, note that the service also subject to a pending lawsuit from the major broadcast networks, so while the service is currently legal, it is unknown how long that status will last.
Locast is available in the following 32 TV markets:
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Madison, WI
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Puerto Rico
- Rapid City, SD
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scranton, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Sioux City, IA
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Tampa Bay, FL
- Tri-Cities (TN, KY, and VA)
- Washington, D.C
- West Palm Beach, FL
You can read more in our review of Locast. You can try their service by downloading Locast to your favorite supported streaming device or on their website.
Watch NBC With an Antenna
Generally, if you live in a city or the suburbs, you can watch NBC over the air using something as simple as this $25 Flat TV antenna. This antenna offers a free return policy, so it’s no risk to test it out. If it doesn’t get the channels you want, you can return it for your money back.
You can see if NBC is available over the air using this FCC page. If the flat antenna doesn’t perform to your expectations, then check out the following instructional guides for more details on over-the-air TV.
- Learn How to Choose a TV Antenna
- Learn How to Use One Antenna for Multiple TVs
- Learn How to Ground a TV Antenna
- Learn how to Improve Antenna TV Reception
- Record from your Antenna with an Over the Air DVR
How to Stream NBC Live
If Locast isn’t an option then you can also use other Live TV streaming services. The two best options are Hulu and Youtube TV. The following streaming services offer live NBC online. With these services, you can watch NBC live. You watch NBC shows as they air, just as if you had a cable subscription. I’ve broken down the availability of NBC live streams by giving the locations each streaming service provides live NBC.
Watch NBC Live Without Cable
Below I’m going to cover the streaming services that offer a live broadcast of NBC. Broadcast stations like NBC, CBS, FOX, and ABC are separated into 210 TV markets in the US. Each streaming service has to negotiate a deal with the station owners in each market to carry the channel.
To watch NBC, use the link in each section to subscribe to a service that offers NBC in your area, download the services streaming app to a streaming device like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc. and watch NBC through that services channel guide.
NBC On Hulu Live TV
Hulu not only offers its on-demand service but live-streaming as well. They offer NBC along with other local networks and other channels found on cable TV. According to the data we have, live NBC is available everywhere in the US. However, be sure to check Hulu’s Website for the latest channels in your area on this page: Hulu Live TV Channels by Zipcode.
A Subscription to Hulu + Live TV includes:
- The basic package comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. (Upgrades available)
- Watch on 2 screens at once. (Upgrades available)
- It comes with 6 customizable profiles
- Includes entire Hulu streaming library
Hulu + Live TV is supported on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, and more. You can read more about Hulu in our review of Hulu. There isn’t a month to month contract so you can sign up to test the service without fear of a long term commitment. You can sign up for Hulu Live TV using this link: Sign up for a Free-Trial to Hulu + Live TV.
How Much: The base package starts at $64.99 per month.
NBC on fuboTV
FuboTV has rapidly increased the number of locations where they stream the live local NBC network. Currently, FuboTV carries NBC in all major TV markets in the US.
You can check out a free trial to FuboTV here. Here are some of fuboTV’s features:
- Over 100 channels are available in fuboTV’s channel lineup
- You can watch on three screens at the same time
- 250 hours of cloud DVR storage
- The FuboTV app is available on major platforms, including Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more.
For more information on FuboTV features please see out Fubo TV review.
How Much: FuboTV costs $64.99 per month.
NBC on YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another great option to watch NBC live. YouTubeTV offers live NBC with its streaming service in all markets in the US. Youtube TV supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more.
YouTube TV provides:
- NBC and over 70 other channels
- unlimited cloud DVR storage
- stream on three devices at once
- Youtube TV supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more.
- Includes Youtube TV on-demand
- offers a 1-week free trial.
Check our review of YouTube TV for more details.
How Much: $64.99 per month.
Watch NBC on AT&T TV
AT&T TV offers live NBC streaming in many markets. NBC is available through all AT&T TV plans. The most affordable is the “Entertainment” package for $69.99 a month, along with a ton of cable TV and other broadcast networks. NBC offers NBC in over half the markets in the US. You can check AT&T’s Website to allow you to make sure NBC is offered in your area. You can also see our review of AT&T TV.
How Much: $69.99 per month through it’s “Entertainment” package.
Stream NBC on Sling
Sling TV offers NBC as a part of their Sling Blue package in the following markets:
- New York – WNBC
- Philadelphia – WCAU
- Chicago – WMAQ
- Boston – WBTS
- Washington, DC – WRC-TV
- Miami/Ft. Lauderdale – WTVJ
- Hartford/New Haven – WVIT
- Dallas/Ft. Worth – KXAS
- Los Angeles – KNBC
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose – KNTV
- San Diego – KNSD
You can check Sling TV’s promo page for new offers. They often have great deals for signing up.
Sling TV is supported on Windows and Mac PCs and laptops, Android and iOS devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus player, Xbox One, 4th Generation Apple TV, Chromecast, and more. See our guide to Sling TV for more information.
Watch on the NBC App
You can download the NBC app on various devices to watch live and On-Demand NBC. Current episodes of NBC shows available. However, a certain amount of time needs to pass before watching the latest episodes unless you subscribe to a TV-Provider that offers NBC. A “key” symbol identifies which episodes require you to link your participating TV provider account. However, locked episodes for most shows will become available to watch without signing into your participating TV provider account 8 days after the episode first airs on TV.
The NBC app accepts Hulu, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and AT&T TV as pay-TV providers credentials. Be aware that the NBC App will only stream live in participating markets.
NBC On-Demand
If you are interested in watching NBC TV shows on-demand, I recommend looking at Hulu’s $5.99 per month streaming library or NBC’s Peacock streaming service. Both offer several current, and classic NBC shows on-demand.
Watch NBC on Roku
To watch NBC on Roku through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, AT&T TV, YouTube TV, etc., follow these instructions.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries NBC
- On your Roku Menu, navigate to “Search” and press “OK” on your remote
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
- Select “Add Channel” press “OK” on your remote. If the channel is already installed, “Go To Channel” will be an option.
- The App is now installed on your Roku. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. NBC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
Watch NBC on Fire TV
To watch NBC on Fire TV through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, AT&T TV, YouTube TV, etc, follow these instructions.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries NBC
- On your Fire TV Home screen, click on the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
- Select “Download,” and the channel will install
- The App is now installed on your Fire TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. NBC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
If you do not subscribe to one of the streaming services that carry NBC, you can also download the NBC app to your Fire TV. This won’t be the same as having your local NBC channel, but you will at least have access to NBC TV shows.
Watch NBC on Apple TV
To watch NBC on Apple TV through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, AT&T TV, YouTube TV, etc., follow these instructions.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries NBC
- Scroll right to the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service click the cloud icon, and the channel will install
- The App is now installed on your Apple TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. NBC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
If you do not subscribe to one of the streaming services that carry NBC, you can also download the NBC app to your Apple TV. This won’t be the same as having your local NBC channel, but you will at least have access to NBC TV shows.
How To Watch Shows On NBC
Below are articles explaining how to watch popular NBC shows.
For information on watching other TV channels online check out: How To Stream Specific TV Channels
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