NBC is a popular live TV channel. Whether it is to watch the latest episodes of primetime NBC shows or English Premier League and other live sports events, it can be useful to have access to NBC throughout the year.
Technically, NBC can be watched for free by using an antenna to access the over-the-air channel. As this method does rely on additional hardware, it is possible that some may encounter signal issues, depending on their location and the strength of the antenna.
The cheapest paid way to watch NBC without cable is currently Peacock at $11.99 a month. For those wanting to sign up to a live TV package that includes access to NBC, Sling TV and its $40 a month Sling Blue package is going to be the cheapest option overall.
If you’re still not sure which is best for you, below is a closer look at all of the current options.
Cheapest way to stream NBC (without a live TV plan)
The very cheapest way to watch NBC is through Peacock. In late 2022, Peacock started offering local NBC affiliates to subscribers, making it possible to access these stations without having to sign up to a live TV plan.
Peacock determines the local NBC station based on the geolocation of the streaming device accessing the service, so consumers don’t get access to the national NBC channel, and cannot choose which local NBC station they have access to.
At present, the availability of NBC through Peacock is also only reserved for those subscribers signed up to the Premium Plus plan. As a result, the cheapest way to stream NBC is $11.99 a month.
| Peacock | |
 | $5.99/$11.99 a month 80,000+ hours on demand Live sports 3 Streams Sign Up |
Cheapest way to stream NBC (with a live TV plan)
At $40 a month, Sling TV is the cheapest way to watch NBC with a live TV streaming package. While Sling TV offers two main plans — Sling Blue and Sling Orange — Sling Blue is the only plan that includes NBC in its lineup.
| Sling Blue | |
 | $40/month 40 channels 3 streams 50 hours DVR 50% Off Your First Month |
However, NBC through Sling Blue is not currently available in all areas in the United States. Therefore, consumers will want to check and make sure that their local NBC station is available through Sling before signing up.
NBC is available in the following Sling markets:
- Boston (WBTS)
- Chicago (WMAQ)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (KXAS)
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ)
- Hartford/New Haven (WVIT)
- Los Angeles (KNBC)
- New York (WNBC)
- Philadelphia (WCAU)
- San Diego (KNSD)
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (KNTV)
- Washington, DC (WRC)
The Sling Blue plan also provides subscribers with access to around 40 live TV channels overall, along with the ability to stream on multiple devices at the same time, and 50 hours of cloud DVR for recordings.
Other ways to watch NBC without cable
If Sling TV is not the right option for you, or NBC is not currently available in your area through Sling, there are other options available.
In addition to Sling TV, all of the live TV streaming services listed below offer live TV plans with access to NBC.
- Hulu Live TV (from $70/month)
- YouTube TV (from $73/month)
- DirecTV Stream (from $75/month)
- Fubo (from $75/month)
NBC and TV Everywhere
As well as watching NBC through a live TV streaming service, there is also the option of watching directly through the NBC website and app. NBC actually allows some content to be watched for free, but for those looking to stream the latest episodes of shows or live events, a live TV subscription is still required.
Like many other channels and networks, NBC uses TV Everywhere to allow live TV subscribers to log in with their account details and unlock all of the content that’s available. While there can sometimes be problems with certain live TV providers not offer TV Everywhere support for certain channels, that’s not an issue with NBC.
DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all currently provide subscribers with TV Everywhere support for NBC.
Watching NBC without cable — recap
At $11.99 a month, a standalone Peacock Premium Plus subscription is the cheapest paid way to stream NBC without cable. While Peacock does offer a cheaper Premium plan, access to a subscriber’s local NBC station is one of the features reserved for Premium Plus subscribers.
| Peacock | |
| $5.99/$11.99 a month 80,000+ hours on demand Live sports 3 Streams Sign Up |
At $40 a month, the Sling Blue plan is the cheapest way to watch NBC through a live TV streaming service, providing you do live in an area where Sling offers access to NBC.
| Sling Blue | |
| $40/month 40 channels 3 streams 50 hours DVR 50% Off Your First Month |
Otherwise, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV, all also offer access to NBC, with their packages ranging between $70 and $75 a month.
