If you’re tired of paying $100 or more per month for cable, and you have a Roku, there’s good news! You can watch NBC live on Roku, as well as just about every other major broadcast network and cable channel – without paying for cable.
Wondering how you can watch NBC live on Roku devices? Read on, and get all of the details that you’ll need to cut the cord on pay TV for good.
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A Note About Affiliate Availability
Before we start going over your options, including “skinny bundle” internet TV services which have NBC, we need to clear something up about the availability of NBC channels.
NBC is, like ABC, CBS, and Fox, among others, a broadcast network. That means you can get NBC for free with an over-the-air antenna. (More on that later.) But it also means that each most local NBC channels are independently owned and operated, unlike cable channels.
This makes things hard for services like fuboTV, Sling TV, and other internet TV services. They must negotiate with each affiliate owner independently to add their channels to the service lineup.
What does this all mean? To boil it down, not all NBC channels are available in all broadcast markets. For example, you may find that you can get NBC with Sling TV, but not Hulu With Live TV – or that you can’t get NBC in your area at all.
But don’t worry. Each of the below services has a free trial and tools that you can use to make sure you’ll get NBC in your area, so you can still try them all risk-free.
fuboTV
fuboTV was originally designed to appeal to sports fans. But with plenty of news and entertainment on offer, it’s become a legitimate contender as a cable replacement service. Let’s discuss the details now.
Plans, deals and pricing
With fuboTV, you have two basic subscription plans to choose from: fubo, and fubo Extra.
To get NBC, you’ll just need to get the base-tier “fubo” plan. You’ll also get CBS and Fox, though you can’t get ABC, which may be a bit disappointing for some cord-cutters. Beyond this, you’ll get top cable channels like Fox Sports, HGTV, NBCSN, CNN, TBS, TNT and more for a total of 80+ channels.
If you opt to pay $5 more per month for the fubo Extra package, you can get some extra channels like Cooking Channel, GSN and DIY Network, as well as BBC World News, for a total of 100+ channels.
You can use this tool from fuboTV to check and see if you get NBC in your area. If you do, fuboTV is a pretty good option.
Features and extras
fuboTV has decent extras, and it works well on the Roku. Naturally, you can download fuboTV directly from the Roku store, and the app has reasonably good reviews. Beyond Roku support, you can watch on iOS and Android devices, as well as on your web browser, and on Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV.
It’s a good thing multiple devices are supported, because you can watch fuboTV on up to 2 devices at once, or on 3 devices if you pay $6/month for the “Family Share” add-on.
You’ll also be able to record content on your Roku with the free, 30-hour DVR, with no time limits or content expiration dates. You can boost this to 500 hours of DVR storage with a $10/month add-on, if you’d like.If you’d like to watch NBC live on Roku with fuboTV, you can try it for free for 7 days, and see if you like the service.
Sling TV
Sling TV, owned by DISH Network, was founded way back in 2015, and it was the first “skinny bundle” internet TV service. It remains a good way to watch NBC live on Roku, though the plans are a bit confusing.
Plans, deals and pricing
Sling TV has two primary plans, as you can see below:
| Sling Orange Great Value $40.00/ month | 30+ channels ESPN New subscriber special 1 simultaneous stream | Try Sling |
| Sling Blue Great Value$40.00/ month | 40+ channels Fox, NBC, CNN, MSNBC New subscriber special 3 simultaneous streams | Try Sling |
| Sling Orange + Blue Best Value $55.00/ month | 45+ channels ESPN New subscriber special 4* simultaneous streams | Try Sling |
If you want to watch NBC live on Roku, you’ll need the Sling Blue package. While Sling Orange contains some sought-after channels like ESPN, it doesn’t have any broadcast networks like NBC. However, you can combine both Sling Orange and Blue for $40/month if you’d like to get a more complete set of channels.
For your $25/month Sling Blue subscription, you’ll get Fox and NBC in select markets. You won’t get CBS or ABC, though. Other channels you’ll get include FX, CNN, Fox Sports, NBCSN, and more, for a total of around 40 channels. You can use this tool from Sling to confirm that you can get NBC in your area.
Features and extras
Sling is available for the Roku, and you can download it directly from the Channel Store here. Beyond Roku, a wide variety of devices are supported, including the Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast. iOS and Android phones and tablets are supported, as are web browsers. Select Samsung and LG smart TVs also support Sling.
As far as simultaneous streams go, you’ll be able to watch on up to 3 devices at once with Sling Blue. Sling Orange channels, though, can only be viewed on a single device.
Also, a DVR is not included with the price of your subscription. You’ll have to pay $5 extra per month for a 50-hour cloud DVR.
If NBC is available in your area, Sling TV is definitely the cheapest way to watch it using internet TV. You can try the service yourself for free now, with a week-long trial.
Hulu With Live TV
Hulu With Live TV launched in 2017, and has quickly become one of the best ways to watch NBC live on Roku. Get the details now.
Plans, deals and pricing
Hulu With Live TV only has a single subscription plan. You’ll pay $40 per month, and in return, you’ll get between 50-70 live cable channels, depending on your location. You also get a free Hulu on-demand subscription, which is an $8/month value. This is definitely a nice benefit.
You can get NBC, as well as ABC, CBS, and Fox if they’re available in your area. You’ll also get a good complement of news, sports, and entertainment channels, like ESPN, CNN, A&E, HGTV and more.
To see if NBC is available in your area, just go to the Hulu website. Then, scroll down and click “view channels in your area.” Enter your ZIP code, and you’ll be able to check if you’ll get NBC.
Features and extras
Hulu With Live TV is available on Roku, through the standard “Hulu” app. You can add it to your Roku here. And, of course, Hulu With Live TV can also be viewed on any other device that supports Hulu. This includes your web browser, Android and iOS phones/tablets, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, the Xbox One and Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and select Samsung/LG smart TVs.
You can stream on 2 devices at once, but the Unlimited Screens add-on lets you stream on unlimited devices in your home network for a $15/month fee. The DVR is free, and comes with 50 hours of storage, upgradeable to 200 hours for a $15/month fee. You can combine both of these upgrades for $20/month if you want.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is Google’s foray into live, internet TV streaming, and it’s been successful so far. With great features and channels, it’s a good choice if you want to watch NBC live on Roku.
Plans, deals and pricing
Like Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV offers just one package of channels for $40/month. You’ll get around 70 channels, including NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS if they’re available in your area. In addition, you’ll get most major sports, news, and entertainment channels, including ESPN and Fox Sports, CNN, Fox News, FX, AMC, E!, TNT and more.
To see if you get NBC in your area, head to the main YouTube TV website, and enter your 5-digit ZIP code. You’ll get an overview of every channel available to you, including locals and regional sports networks (RSNs).
Features and extras
YouTube TV has incredible features, as well as a Roku app that just became available in 2018. Beyond Roku support, you’ll be able to watch on Chromecast and Apple TV, as well as your Android/iOS devices, and the Google Chrome web browser, and the Xbox One. Smart TVs from Hisense, Sharp, Samsung, LG, and VIZIO are also supported.
You can stream on up to 3 devices at once, which is above the industry average. The best feature, though, is the cloud DVR. You can store unlimited recordings for up to 9 months. And because you can create up to 6 different user profiles, it’s easy to share your subscription with the rest of your household.
PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue has struggled to gain widespread adoption among cord-cutters, but remains one of the best ways to watch NBC live on Roku if you have a large family.
Plans, deals and pricing
PlayStation Vue offers four basic plans, as follows:
- Access – 45+ channels, $45/month
- Core – 60+ channels, $50/month
- Elite – 90+ channels, $60/month
- Ultra – All Elite channels plus HBO/Showtime, $80/month
To get NBC, you’ll just need the cheapest, $45/month “Access” plan. You’ll get NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox in most areas, as well as about 40 more top channels including CNN, CNBC, ESPN, FS1, FX, TNT, SyFy and more. To check if you can get NBC in your area, just enter your ZIP code on the PlayStation Vue website.
You can upgrade your subscription to get more channels at an additional fee, for a total of almost 90 with the “Ultra” subscription.
Features and extras
PlayStation Vue has great features for families. Naturally, you can download it for your Roku. You can also stream Vue using the PlayStation 3 or 4 console, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and iOS/Android devices, as well as web browsers.
The highlight of Vue is the fact that you can stream on up to 5 devices at once. This is the best simultaneous streaming policy in the industry. You also get an unlimited cloud DVR, though your recordings do expire after just 28 days.
DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now is a good way to watch NBC live on Roku, but lags behind the competition when it comes to features. Here’s what you need to know about DirecTV Now.
Plans, deals and pricing
You can choose from four channel packages with DirecTV Now, similar to PlayStation Vue.
- Live A Little – 65+ channels, $40/month
- Just Right – 85+ channels, $55/month
- Go Big – 105+ channels, $65/month
- Gotta Have It – 125+ channels, $75/month
To get NBC, you’ll just need the “Live A Little” package. You’ll also get ABC, CBS, and Fox if they’re available in your area. Check out this article from DirecTV Now to check, and make sure you get NBC in your area.
Features and extras
DirecTV Now is a bit lacking when it comes to features. Device support is good, with a Roku channel, as well as support for iOS and Android, web browsers, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast.
But beyond that, it’s a bit disappointing. DirecTV Now only gives you a 20-hour cloud DVR with a 30-day content expiration date, which is the worst in the industry. Simultaneous streaming is a bit better, with an industry-standard 2 streams. You watch on a third device if you pay $5/month extra for another stream, though.
The NBC App
One nice thing about subscribing to an internet TV “skinny bundle” is that you can enjoy most of the benefits of a traditional cable subscription at a lower cost. This includes using your login information to watch content directly on NBC.
All of the above services – fuboTV, Sling, Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV, Playstation Vue, and DirecTV Now – allow you to do this. You can download the NBC app for your Roku, then sign in with your login to one of these services, and watch both live and on-demand NBC content.
Why do this at all? The main reason is that, when watching content on the NBC Roku app, you don’t use up one of your streams for your internet TV service.
If you had DirecTV Now, for example, you could watch NBC live on Roku, for example – while 2 of your family members watch their own shows on different devices. This helps you get around the 2-device limit.
OTA Channels on Roku with an Antenna
One great thing about NBC is that if you have a digital antenna you can get NBC for free – without even paying for an internet TV “skinny bundle!” You can just buy an antenna, set it up, plug it directly into your Roku, and watch all of your favorite local channels right from your Roku device.
Want to learn more? Check out this article from Roku to learn more, and watch NBC live on Roku for free!
Related: How to Watch Local TV Channels Without Cable – Cord-Cutting 101
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
