YouTube TV carries NBC and NBC Sports, but Fubo's blackout rules limit what you can watch
YouTube TV includes NBC and NBCSN (NBC Sports Network) in its base package, so you can watch most NBC Sports programming without hitting a blackout. Fubo also carries NBC and NBCSN, but applies regional sports blackouts — meaning live games involving your local team may be blocked even though the channel is in your package. The blackout depends on where you live and which team is playing, not on which service you use.
If you live in a market with a major sports team, Fubo's blackout restrictions will affect you more than YouTube TV's will. YouTube TV has fewer blackout restrictions overall, though some live sports (mainly MLB, NHL, and NBA games) can still be blacked out on both services depending on your location and the broadcast rights for that specific game.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV carries NBC and NBCSN without regional blackouts on most programming, while Fubo applies blackouts to local team games in your market.
- Blackouts on both services depend on the sport, the teams playing, and your zip code — not on the streaming service itself.
- YouTube TV is the better choice if you want to watch local sports without blackout restrictions; Fubo is cheaper but you may miss local games.
- Neither service carries every sports channel — YouTube TV has more sports channels overall, including NFL RedZone and MLB Network.
How NBC Sports blackouts work on streaming services
Blackouts happen because sports leagues sell broadcast rights separately by region. A local team's game might be sold to a regional sports network in your area, which means the national broadcast (on NBC or NBCSN) gets blacked out in that region to protect the regional network's exclusive rights. This is a league rule, not a service rule — Fubo and YouTube TV both have to follow it.
The difference is that YouTube TV's blackout policy is narrower. YouTube TV blocks fewer games overall and has clearer rules about which ones will be affected. Fubo's blackout list is longer and harder to predict because it covers more regional sports networks and applies blackouts more broadly.
If you search for a specific game on either service and it says "not available in your area," that is a blackout. You cannot work around it by changing your location settings or using a VPN — the services check your actual billing address.
What sports channels each service includes
YouTube TV's sports lineup includes NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and several others. That is more sports channels than Fubo offers in its base package.
Fubo's base package includes NBC, NBCSN, ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1, but does not include NFL RedZone or MLB Network unless you add the Sports Plus add-on ($11 per month). If you watch football or baseball regularly, that add-on cost matters — it brings Fubo closer to YouTube TV's price but still leaves you with blackout restrictions.
For college sports, YouTube TV carries more conference networks (Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC Network) than Fubo does. If you follow college football or basketball, YouTube TV is the stronger choice.
Price and what blackouts actually cost you
YouTube TV costs more per month than Fubo's base package. YouTube TV runs around $73 per month (prices vary by region), while Fubo starts at $80 per month but includes more channels in the base tier. However, if you add Fubo's Sports Plus add-on to match YouTube TV's sports coverage, the price difference shrinks.
The real cost of Fubo's blackouts is the games you miss. If your local team plays a nationally televised game on NBC or NBCSN, you will not be able to watch it on Fubo in your market. You would have to find another way to watch — a cable login if you have one, the league's own streaming service (if available), or waiting for a replay. YouTube TV does not have this problem for most games.
Calculate your actual cost by listing the sports you watch most, then checking both services' channel lists and blackout policies for your zip code. Some people find that YouTube TV's higher price is worth it to avoid blackout frustration; others decide the savings with Fubo outweigh the occasional missed game.
Regional sports networks and local team coverage
Blackouts hit hardest when your local team plays. If you live in a market with an NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL team, that team's games are often broadcast on a regional sports network (like Bally Sports, MSG, or Spectrum SportsNet) rather than on national channels. When a game airs on the regional network, the national broadcast gets blacked out on both YouTube TV and Fubo.
YouTube TV and Fubo both carry some regional sports networks, but not all of them. Check whether your specific regional network is included in your package before you sign up. If your team's games air on a regional network that neither service carries, you will miss those games regardless of which service you choose.
This is where cable or the league's own streaming service (like NBA League Pass or MLB.TV) sometimes becomes necessary. Neither YouTube TV nor Fubo can be your only source for local sports if your team's games are on a regional network you cannot access.
Which service is better for sports fans
YouTube TV is the better choice if you want the fewest blackouts and the most sports channels. You pay more, but you get NFL RedZone, MLB Network, more conference networks, and fewer regional blackout restrictions. If you live in a major sports market and want to watch your local team without surprises, YouTube TV removes most of that friction.
Fubo is the better choice if you prioritize price and do not live in a market with a major team, or if you are willing to accept occasional blackouts. The base package is cheaper, and if you add Sports Plus, you get close to YouTube TV's channel count. The blackout risk is real, though — check your specific market before committing.
For casual sports watchers who mainly watch national games and do not follow a local team closely, either service works. For serious fans of a local team, YouTube TV's lower blackout rate makes it worth the extra cost.
How to check blackouts for your location
Both YouTube TV and Fubo let you enter your zip code on their websites to see which channels and games are available in your area. Do this before you sign up — it takes two minutes and tells you exactly what you will and will not be able to watch.
Search for your local team's schedule and cross-reference it with the blackout information for your zip code. If most of your team's games show as blacked out on Fubo but not on YouTube TV, that is a sign YouTube TV is the better fit for you. If blackouts are minimal on both, price becomes the deciding factor.
Keep in mind that blackout status can change from season to season if broadcast rights shift. Check again before each sports season starts, especially if you are considering switching services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NBC Sports games on YouTube TV without blackouts?
Most NBC Sports games are available on YouTube TV without blackout restrictions. However, some live sports — mainly local team games in your market — may still be blacked out if those games are broadcast on a regional sports network instead of nationally on NBC or NBCSN. Check your zip code on YouTube TV's website to see which specific games are affected in your area.
Why does Fubo black out more games than YouTube TV?
Fubo applies blackouts more broadly to protect regional sports networks' exclusive rights. The blackout rules come from the sports leagues themselves, not from Fubo, but Fubo's specific blackout policy is stricter than YouTube TV's. Both services have to follow league rules, but they interpret and explore those rules differently.
If a game is blacked out on Fubo, can I watch it on YouTube TV instead?
Not necessarily. If a game is blacked out in your region, it is blacked out on both services because the blackout is based on your location and the broadcast rights for that specific game, not on which service you use. However, YouTube TV has fewer blackouts overall, so more games will be available to you on YouTube TV than on Fubo.
Do I need cable to watch local sports if both streaming services black them out?
If a local game is blacked out on both YouTube TV and Fubo, you may be able to watch it through the league's own streaming service (like NBA League Pass or MLB.TV), though those services have their own blackout rules. A cable login with a regional sports network can also work. Check what your local team offers before assuming you are locked out.
Is YouTube TV worth the extra cost just to avoid blackouts?
That depends on how many games your local team plays and how many of them are blacked out on Fubo in your market. If your team plays 20 games a season and half of them are blacked out on Fubo but available on YouTube TV, the extra cost may be worth it. If blackouts are rare in your area, Fubo's lower price might make more sense. Check your specific market before deciding.