NBC is America’s oldest major broadcast network, providing viewers with some of the longest-running programs on the air. It’s also the home of NBC Nightly News, which is more important than ever in an election year. If you’ve cut the cord, you may be wondering how to watch NBC without a cable subscription. The good news is that NBC is one of the easier channels to get without cable. It’s available on several skinny bundle streaming services and free over the air in many areas. This guide will walk you through all the cable-free options for watching NBC.
How to Watch NBC Online Without Cable
If you’re wondering how to watch your favorite “Friends” and “Seinfeld” reruns, catch the headlines, or access some of the best reality and late-night programs on TV, here are your options to watch NBC without cable.
Skinny bundle streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV or fuboTV, offer a happy medium between an on-demand streaming library and a cable TV experience. In signing up, you get access to the platform’s streaming library, but you also have a list of cable TV channels you can choose to add to your subscription. You’re charged by the number of channels you choose to add, cutting out the fluff and saving you money while you still get to watch all the programs you love. NBC is available as a channel option on several skinny bundle streaming services, as well as NBCUniversal’s proprietary streaming platform, Peacock. The full list is below.
The other way to watch NBC is to invest in a quality TV antenna. NBC is broadcast through local TV towers across the country, and with the right equipment, you can tune in completely free. We’ve got a full guide walking you through the basics of how to set up free over-the-air TV, as well as choosing an HD TV antenna.
Here is the full list of all the ways to watch NBC:
Can I Watch NBC on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
With NBC available on so many different streaming services, you also have plenty of options to switch screens using your favorite streaming device. Move from your phone to your TV with ease by connecting your chosen streaming service from the list above with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS/Android, or your web browser. Streaming devices aren’t an option if you access NBC for free over-the-air from your local broadcast tower.
More to Love for NBC Fans
One of the biggest reasons fans turn to NBC is their consistent news coverage. If you’re looking for current events, check out MSNBC. Owned by the same company, MSNBC is NBCUniversal’s politics channel. From upcoming elections to major national news events, MSNBC’s programs like “Morning Joe” or “The Rachel Maddow Show” are great for commentary. Check out our guide on how to watch MSNBC without cable.
CBS and ABC also both offer nightly news programs and show similar daytime programming to NBC. Action, drama, reality, late-night, and classic reruns can all be found on CBS and ABC. CBS is home to shows like “NCIS,” “Survivor,” and “CBS Evening News.” Find out how to watch CBS.
“ABC World News Tonight” is an evening news staple, and the network is also home to shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” Check out our guide on how to watch ABC without a cable subscription.
Not sure if this market specific, but in Detroit Sling only has NBC on-demand, not NBC live.
You’re right. Live local channels are only available in select markets. You can check what channels are available in your region via Sling TV’s site.
NBC has terrible reception since the rescan on October 18th 2019. The signal is very broken up. I would think they would correct this. I stopped watching because it’s so bad.
Sling tv
NBC are just money hungry.
Unfortunately, the link to check if you will get NBC is down. Says sorry an error has occurred.
Help. My samsung smart tv doesn’t have channel 5 which is nbc 5 channel is no longer there. I even checked the channel list but nothing. I’m going to miss agt. 😢
I had nbc on my tv without cable .. now I can’t get it ..why
Me too. I have never had cable and used to get NBC with my antenna. The past 2 years, I cannot get NBC. I think their over the air broadcast is not as strong as it used to be.
The issue is maybe you need to rescan first but also if you now have cable — your provider may have it on different channel or not offer the OTA channels at all. Call the cable provider and ask them if and where. Maybe that will help. I have had that issue too when going from no cable OTA only and then moving elsewhere where I had cable and was like where did it go? It was a provider issue – Comcast or Verizon here.
Sling TV in NYC area has the live feed of NBC Channel 4. I also receive it beautifully on the antenna. The antenna is better for the picture quality and also because I also get Cozy TV which is channel 4.2 (NBC is 4.1).
Why don’t these services get the live streams from each network affiliate so the subscriber sees their local station? That would fix the problem of NBC not being available everywhere (as I am assuming the cutting-out of the local affiliate is the issue). I am interested in this due to poor signal even with a good roof antenna.
It must be a question of contracts.
I do not think PS Vue offers NBC at this time (in any market). I think it only offers ABC, CBS, and FOX, in certain markets.
Not a happy customer. The local NBC affiliate (WBBH) is down for 3 to 5 days. I do not have a “TV Provider” where I could stream NBC anyway, but instead use an antenna. Well, the antenna is under repair. Nowhere is there an option I can access where I can watch NBC on line while the repairs are underway. Some customers are more important than others?
As others have stated, ever since you did your “upgrade” we can’t get NBC. I am in Southern Colorado and all your antenna users are unable to view NBC. Anymore, when we scan for our OTA channels, your channels won’t even come up.
I really wish you could somehow let all of us know what the heck is going on.
Thank you
Would also like to know why there are no replies to all the posts?
As others have stated, ever since you did your “upgrade” we can’t get NBC. I am in Southern Colorado and all your antenna users are unable to view NBC. Anymore, when we scan for our OTA channels, your channels won’t even come up.
I really wish you could somehow let all of us know what the heck is going on.
Thank you
Hi Teri, thanks for reading, but I think you’ll have to take this up with NBC. We’re not affiliated with NBC and we don’t know why they might have changed their setup in Colorado. We’re sorry you’re having trouble, though!
They own Comcast and use a UHF signal
Why are there no responses to everyone’s questions?
NBC isn’t picked up on any if my antenna scans. I can get 17 to 35 channels. NBC is not one of them. Are they are now affiliated with the cable companies?
NBC is still available over the air, but it doesn’t reach everybody. If you have an NBC station in your area, you’re probably either A) out of range or B) blocked by something, like hills or a few big buildings. Sometimes over-the-air TV can be a little hit-and-miss, unfortunately. You could use an online tool like the one at AntennaWeb.org to find your nearest NBC station — that will at least tell you if there’s one nearby and you’re within range. If you find you’re out of range, you could try a strong antenna or attach an amplifier to your current antenna. If your problem is something like a hill in the way, though, you might be stuck. Thanks for reading, and I hope you can find a way to get a signal!
Not where I live! My OTA Antenna gets 29 channels including every local channel like CBS, ABC,and Fox. But does NOT get NBC! No hills or buildings blocking me and I am NOT out of range for ANY of the other local channels. I am within the city limits. Maybe NBC broadcasts in your area, but not mine. Just because it broadcasts in your area doesn’t mean it broadcasts in every local area. Your post irritates me because your putting the blame on the consumer rather than the local NBC stations. AND you assume your experience must be the only experience.
NBC could do better, I watch CBS live with an inexpensive monthly fee. I’m not paying $50 to $70 per month just to watch NBC. Have not found an antenna as of yet that will pick up my local NBC station, but it will pick up my local CBS station which is even further away.