How to Watch ‘NBC Nightly News’ Without Cable

There are many ways to get your news these days. You could turn to print journalism or the never-ending news cycles on cable channels such as CNN and Fox News. You could check out online outlets such as Facebook and YouTube, although you should be wary of the disinformation that proliferates on those platforms. But there’s a reason so many Americans still tune in to evening news programs. You know you can trust professional programs like “NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt,” which follow in the tradition of great American newscasters such as Walter Cronkite and Peter Jennings. Many viewers feel that “NBC Nightly News” is less biased and dramatized than its cable competitors, which is all the more important in an election year.

If you don’t have a cable subscription, you may be wondering how to watch “NBC Nightly News.” Luckily, NBC — although it comes with most cable packages — isn’t a paid cable channel. That means it’s likely available for free through your local broadcast tower, and it can be accessed with an antenna. If you want a more streamlined experience, NBC is also available on quite a few streaming services. Below we have the scoop on all the ways to watch NBC’s nightly news program without a cable subscription.

When NBC’s nightly news program first aired in 1970, most Americans didn’t have cable and instead tuned in using TV antennas. Before Lester Holt, many viewers remember growing up with a daily weigh-in from Tom Brokaw or Brian Williams, from whom we heard about world events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11. Those days aren’t over, because even without cable TV you can still tune in to “NBC Nightly News.”

First, you have skinny bundle streaming services. They give you the best of both worlds, falling between an on-demand streaming library like Netflix and a cable TV experience. You get access to the platform’s streaming library, but you also have a list of cable TV channels you can add to your subscription. You’re charged based on what you add, resulting in a leaner and cheaper service than cable. “NBC Nightly News” is available as a channel option with several skinny bundle streaming services, including Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV.

The other way to tune in is the same as it was in the 1970s. “NBC Nightly News” is broadcast through local TV towers across the country, and you can tune in for free with a quality TV antenna. Availability and clarity will vary depending on your home’s distance from the tower and obstructions, but many Americans still watch this way with no issues. We have a full guide on how to set up free over-the-air TV and choose an HD TV antenna.

Here are all the ways to watch “NBC Nightly News” without cable:

• Hulu + Live TV
• DIRECTV
• Sling TV
• fuboTV
• Peacock
• YouTube TV
• Free over-the-air TV

Just because you’re watching “NBC Nightly News” online using a streaming service like Hulu + Live TV doesn’t mean you have to watch the news on your computer screen. Streaming devices allow you to switch between any screen with ease. If you watch via one of the streaming services above, you can connect with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS/Android, or your web browser for more flexibility. Keep in mind that it isn’t an option if you watch “NBC Nightly News” for free over the air.

Can’t get enough news? Check out CNN for 24/7 coverage of everything related to current events and politics. From breaking news to extensive commentary, CNN is the place to go if you want to go in depth on the latest events. Read our guide to how to watch CNN without cable for more information.

MSNBC is NBCUniversal’s politics channel. From upcoming elections to major national news events, MSNBC’s programs, such as “Morning Joe'” and “The Rachel Maddow Show,” are great for commentary. Check out our guide to watching MSNBC without cable.

CBS and ABC also offer nightly news programs similar to “NBC Nightly News.” For daily updates from Norah O’Donnell on “CBS Evening News” and the iconic investigative news program “60 Minutes,” read about how to watch CBS.

“ABC World News Tonight” is an evening news staple. Get all the latest from anchor David Muir with our guide to watching ABC without a cable subscription.