Cutting the cord in 2020 is not what it used to be. There are so many opportunities to reduce your cable bill, or even rid yourself of it entirely. While this may be true, there is always one thing that holds people back: the fear of losing the channels that you love.
That’s why, today, we’ll be taking a look at how to watch NBC without cable. So if this is something that you’re interested in, you’ll definitely want to pay close attention.
We want to make sure that you can cut the cord and let me assure you, you won’t need to compromise on anything. In this article, we’ll be showing you the “latest and greatest” ways to get the channels you love. Also, we’ll be breaking everything down into nice easy-to-read sections like:
- How to watch NBC without cable by using over-the-air antenna TV (OTA TV).
- How to watch NBC without cable by using popular streaming services.
- Final thoughts on how to watch NBC without cable.
So now that you know what we’ll be going over, let’s take a look at how you can watch not only NBC without cable, but also a plethora of local and premium channels available.
How to Watch NBC without Cable: Over-the-Air Antenna
OTA TV is by far one of the best ways to watch NBC without using cable. This is due to the fact that OTA TV antennas will usually provide you with the local networks you’re looking for at no cost. What does this mean?
Let us explain.
How does OTA TV work?
OTA TV sounds really complicated when you first hear about it, but we assure you it’s not. There are a lot of antennas, configurations, and jargon to know, but we promise we’ll make this as painless as possible.
Now, with that being said, think of OTA TV as a way to stream television using an antenna. If you’ve been around for a little while, chances are you already know all about this. OTA TV used to be popular before cable took over, but in 2020, OTA TV is gunning for cable once again and there are brilliant things on the horizon.
What does OTA TV look like?
To get started with OTA TV you need to decide whether you’ll be installing an indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna. When at all possible I always recommend an outdoor antenna. This will give you the best results for your area. A couple articles you may want to check out after you’re done with this one are:
- 10 Best Outdoor HDTV Antennas
- How to Install an Indoor TV Antenna
- How High Should You Mount A TV Antenna
- How To Properly Ground A TV Antenna
One thing to keep in mind, is that you’ll want to place the antenna in a place where there won’t be a lot of interference. This makes attics, or higher up mounts in apartments preferable. On the other hand, if you happen to be looking into OTA TV for your home an outdoor antenna is your best bet.
How does this help me watch NBC without cable?
The reason that this helps you watch NBC without cable, is due to the fact that OTA antennas will allow you to tune into your local networks. This means that you can actually pick up signals from channels like NBC, FOX, and many more.
Depending on where you live, there are many channels available to you over-the-air, in pristine HD quality, and completely free. Be sure to check out our TV Station Locator for Antenna page to find out exactly what channels are available to you in your area.
How much will OTA TV cost me each month?
One thing that causes some concern is the price. This is totally understandable, because you want to save money by cutting the cord, right? Now, this is actually one of the reasons we love OTA TV so much.
There is no monthly cost to OTA TV, which means that you only need to pay the cost of the actual antenna and maybe some network tuner hardware for an more advanced setup.
Check out my current setup here.
How much will an OTA antenna cost me?
If you’re concerned about the upfront cost, it really depends on the antenna that you go with and how elaborate you want your setup to be (see my setup here) . Indoor over-the-air antennas will usually cost you less than $75, but when outdoor over-the-air antennas can sometimes cost you a bit more (approx. $150). This is due to the fact that outdoor over-the-air antennas tend to have more range.
How is the quality of OTA TV?
One thing that you may remember about classic OTA TV (back in the 80’s and 90’s), is that the service was not good. The signals were broadcast in analog and you would lose channels, find static, and there was no HD quality yet.
We get where this concern comes from, but the good news is that OTA TV is a lot better than it used to be. In fact, a new standard is upon us known as ATSC 3.0. With this new standard television broadcasters will have the ability to transmit over-the-air signals in 4K, with additional capacity to broadcast in 8K. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. For more information on all this standard has to offer, check out the following articles:
- Everything You Need To Know About ATSC 3.0
- Next Gen TV: The Future Is Now 2020
- Cord Cutting: How to Cut the Cable Cord in 2020
Our Top 3 picks for Indoor and Outdoor OTA Antennas
Now that you know the basics, we want to point you in the right direction. We know that it can be hard to find the right product, especially if you’re new to cord cutting, so please pay close attention to our picks. With these picks, you’ll learn how to watch NBC without cable in no time at all.
Top Rated Indoor Antennas
- Mohu-Curve-50 Amplified Designer Edition
- Winegard Elite-7550 HDTV Antenna
- ClearStream 2MAX-HDTV Antenna
Top Rated Outdoor Antennas
- 8-Element Bowtie Outdoor HDTV Antenna
- Channel Master CM-4228HD High VHF/UHF Antenna
- RCA Compact Outdoor Yagi HDTV Antenna
So as you can see, when it comes to learning about how to watch NBC without cable, over-the-air antennas are a great way to dip your feet in.
How to watch NBC without cable using a streaming service
Now that we’ve shown you how OTA TV works, we want to show you the other options. While OTA TV may be perfect for local channels, live TV streaming services will provide you with a wider range of channels. Therefore, in this section, we’ll break down some of the top services. If you want to learn about how to watch NBC without cable, you need to become familiar with the top streaming services out there.
Sling TV
Sling TV is an excellent service that will show you how to watch NBC without cable. The beauty of Sling TV is that it’s inexpensive, and you can customize your experience. This is due to the fact that there are two different packages that cost $30 each, which means you don’t need to break the bank if you want to choose only one.
For example, Sling TV Orange is a bit more sports related, while Sling TV Blue is geared towards more casual viewers. So when push comes to shove, you can choose the plan that works for you. Also, if you do want to grab both packages, you can combine the two for only $50 per month.
Which Sling TV plan has NBC?
If all you want is NBC, you don’t need to both packages. Therefore, for all of you NBC fans out there, you’ll find that Sling TV Blue has exactly what you need. So with Sling TV, in theory, you can watch NBC without cable for only $30 per month. Not bad, right?
Here are a few of the channels you’ll find in Sling TV Blue:
- NBC
- NBC Sports
- Bravo
- Syfy
- USA
- FX
- FXX
So as you can see, with Sling TV Blue, you get access to NBC and a whole lot more (42 total channels) for only $30 per month (click here for complete channel list). In this day and age, understanding how to watch NBC without cable has never been easier.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is another phenomenal way to watch NBC without cable. Plus, we’re more than sure that most of you are already familiar with some of the other options Hulu already has. The beauty of Hulu Live TV, is that you’ll get to watch live TV, and you’ll be able to access Hulu’s wide array of IPTV content. So to be honest, Hulu Live TV is kind of the cord cutters dream.
What does Hulu Live TV offer?
Hulu Live TV comes with a wide array of features. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Access on demand channels
- No contract
- You can have up to 6 different profiles
- You can use a DVR function (in the cloud) for up to 50 hours
- Sports channels are included
- Local channels like NBC are included
- You have the option to grab special channels like HBO
So as you can see, if you want to watch NBC without cable, Hulu Live TV is definitely one of the best options.
Oh, and did we mention that you get all of this for only $54.99 each month? If you want to cut the cord in one fatal blow, Hulu Live TV is one of the best ways to do it (click here for complete channel list).
Fubo TV
Fubo TV is another excellent option to watch NBC without cable. This is due to the fact that Fubo TV comes with over 100 channels, yes you heard that right, over 100 channels. Seriously, think about it, how many cable channels do you really watch? Oh, and if your wifi can handle it, Fubo TV is 4K ready. If you want to learn about how to watch NBC without cable, Fubo TV is very important.
What does Fubo TV offer?
Fubo TV will expose you to a wide array of features for only $54.99 per month. Some of these features include:
- Over 100 channels
- Local channels like FOX, NBC, and more
- Global soccer events (for all of you soccer fans out there)
- A cloud based DVR system
- No annual contract
- On demand content access
So if you want to watch NBC without cable, trust me on this one, Fubo TV is definitely a great option.
The beauty of Fubo TV is that it comes packed with channels like NBC, but if you’re someone who loves global sports, you might be surprised by how much better it is than cable TV. Sure, learning about how to watch NBC without cable is great, but Fubo TV will help you take it to the next level. To see all the channels Fubo TV has to offer click here.
AT&T TV NOW
The final option we have to show you today is one from AT&T TV Now. Most of you just recognize AT&T as a phone company, but they’ve actually been up to some pretty great things in the world of live TV. Therefore, we want to show you why AT&T TV Now is a great choice for cutting the cord. Trust us on this one, you’ll love learning about how to watch NBC without cable with AT&T.
What does AT&T TV NOW offer?
AT&T TV Now offers a couple of different packages. They start off around $50 per month, but can actually reach well over $100 a month depending on what you’re looking for. While $100 is probably creeping up to your cable bill, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can find NBC in the $50 per month Plus plan.
Here are some of the other features AT&T TV Now includes:
- DVR space (in the cloud)
- Over 100 channels depending on your plan
- Access to local networks like NBC, FOX, and more
- HBO can be included
- On demand options are included
So if you’re curious about how to watch NBC without cable, you’ll definitely be pleased to hear that AT&T TV Now has exactly what you’re looking for at a very fair price. View complete channel listing here.
Final thoughts on how to watch NBC without cable
We know that we went over a lot of information, but if you want to learn about how watch NBC without cable you need to be well informed. As we’ve mentioned earlier, when it comes to cutting the cord, it’s important that you do so in a way that’s stress free.
Using things like OTA TV and live TV streaming services are great ways to watch NBC without cable. Plus, on the bright side, chances are you’ll be able to watch all the channels you love with the right combination.
As always, if you ever feel a bit lost on your cord cutting journey, please feel free to use this post as a guide. When it comes to cutting the cord, we just want to make it easy for you. Also, if you really want a truly well rounded experience with cord cutting, we definitely recommend pairing an over-the-air antenna with a streaming service.
Now that you know the facts, do you know how to watch NBC without cable?
Additional Reading…
We hope you enjoyed our article “How to Watch NBC without Cable”. If you did, check out these other articles that may be of interest to you:
- Cord Cutting: How to Cut the Cable Cord in 2020
- FREE TV: The Ultimate Cord Cutters Guide
- 10 Best Legal IPTV Service Providers
- What is Over-the-Air Antenna TV