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If you love shows like Law & Order or you want to watch more seasonal specials like New Year’s Eve programming, you may want to know how to watch NBC live for free if you don’t have cable or even a TV.
NBC, which stands for the National Broadcasting Company and is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, is known as one of the Big Three TV networks has been around since 1956. With 60-plus years on television, NBC is responsible for hit shows like Friends, Seinfeld, 30 Rock, The Office, Parks & Recreation and much, much more. The network is also the home of variety shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as news programs such as NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC.
There’s no doubt that NBC, which is nicknamed the “Peacock Network” for its colorful peacock logo, is a mainstay in many American homes. Almost everyone has a favorite show on NBC, so it’s understandable why those who don’t have cable may be wondering if there’s a way to watch NBC live for free online. Read on to find out where to stream your favorite NBC shows.
What Is NBC’s NYE Programming?
To ring in 2025, NBC is hosting three all-new specials for viewers to watch at home. At 9:00 p.m. EST, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will kick off New Year’s Eve with a “Toast to 2024,” followed by Seth Meyer’s NYE special where he’ll look back on all his Day Drinking segments at 11:30 p.m. EST. The night will wrap up at 12:35 a.m. EST with E! News Presents NBC’s Hot 10 of 2024.
How to watch NBC live for free
NBC is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. While Hulu+ With Live TV doesn’t have a free trial, it is cheaper per month than the other options, starting at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Best Overall Pick to Watch NBC: DirecTV Stream
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch NBC live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. NBC is available with all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBC with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBC and watch live!
Hulu+ With Live TV
Hulu+ with Live TV is another solid option to watch NBC live. Not only does the service allow users to watch NBC live, but subscribers also have access to Hulu and its catalogue of past NBC shows and episodes. Hulu+ With Live TV offers a seven-day free trial for customers to try out the service before subscribing. The service also offers more than 65 channels and 50 hours of DVR footage.
Free trial: 7 days
Price: $86.99 per month with ads, or $92.99 per month without ads
Fubo
Fubo is another option to watch NBC live. The service, which offers a seven-day free trial, allows users to watch the netowrk live as shows like This Is Us air in real time. Though Fubo doesn’t offer a catalogue of past NBC shows, the service does have more than 120 channels and allows users to record up to 250 hours of DVR footage. The service is also offering new year discounts right now, giving you the chance to save money right off the bat.
Free trial: 7 days
Price: Starting at $45 per month
NBC.com
Those who are subscribed to a TV provider (or can mooch off someone who is) can watch NBC live on NBC.com or the NBC app. If you aren’t in this situation, don’t worry, as there are several free trials you still can use to watch NBC live for free. Read on to find out which is the best fit.
How to watch NBC Next Day
Peacock
Peacock is one of the most affordable options to watch NBC live. The service offers live NBC streaming and thousands of hours of NBC Universal shows Law & Order and This Is Us. All you have to do is sign up for an account with your email. If you want to watch new episodes of NBC shows the day after they air, you’ll need to sign up for either Peacock Premium (which costs $7.99 per month and has ads) or Peacock Premium Plus (which costs $13.99 per month and is ad-free).
Price: $7.99 to $13.99 per month
Hulu
Hulu is another affordable option to watch next-day NBC episodes. The service, which offers a seven-day free trial, upload new episodes of several NBC shows, including This Is Us and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, hours after they air live. Hulu, which costs $9.99 per month for its base plan, is also a lot cheaper than its Live TV counterpart, so it’s a good option if you can wait until the next day to catch your favorite shows.
Free trial: 7 days
Price: $9.99+ per month with ads, $18.99 per month without ads
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