YouTube TV carries NBC in most US markets, but not every local NBC station

YouTube TV includes the national NBC feed, which carries primetime shows, sports, and news. However, your access to local NBC affiliates — the stations that broadcast local news and some programming in your city — depends on your location. YouTube TV has carriage agreements with many local NBC stations but not all of them. If you live in a major market, you will likely get your local NBC channel. If you live in a smaller market, you may not.

The national NBC feed is available to all YouTube TV subscribers at no extra cost. Local NBC stations, when available in your area, are also included in your base subscription. You do not pay extra to unlock them. The catch is that YouTube TV's coverage of local stations varies by city, and that coverage can change if carriage agreements expire or are renegotiated.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube TV includes the national NBC network for all subscribers, which carries primetime programming, sports, and breaking news.
  • Local NBC affiliates are available in many but not all US markets, and you can check your specific address on YouTube TV's website to see what local channels you get.
  • If your local NBC station is not available through YouTube TV, you may be able to watch some NBC content through the NBC app or Peacock, though both require authentication or a paid subscription.
  • YouTube TV's channel lineup, including local stations, can change when carriage agreements are renewed or expire.

How to check if you get local NBC in your area

YouTube TV lets you check your local channel lineup before you subscribe. Go to youtube.com/tv, enter your zip code in the "Check your local channels" tool, and the site will show you which NBC station (if any) is available at your address. This is the fastest way to know whether you will get your local NBC affiliate.

The tool shows you the full list of channels available in your area, not just NBC. You can see which other local stations come with your subscription and which national channels are included. If your local NBC station does not appear in the results, it means YouTube TV does not currently carry it in your market.

What NBC programming is available on YouTube TV

The national NBC feed carries The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, The Voice, The Bachelor, This Is Us, and other primetime series. It also carries NBC News programming, including the morning show and evening news broadcasts. Sports on NBC include Sunday Night Football, select playoff games, and Olympic coverage when those events air.

Local NBC stations carry local news, weather, and some syndicated programming. They also carry NBC's national feed during primetime hours. If you get your local NBC station through YouTube TV, you are watching the same content as the national feed during those hours — the local station is just the vehicle for delivery in your market.

What to do if your local NBC station is not available

If YouTube TV does not carry your local NBC station, you have a few options. The NBC app lets you watch some NBC content, but it requires you to sign in with a cable or streaming TV subscription. If you have YouTube TV, you can use your YouTube TV login to authenticate in the NBC app, and you will be able to watch some shows on demand and live NBC programming when it is available.

Peacock, NBC's streaming service, carries NBC content including some shows that air on the network. Peacock has a free tier with ads and a paid tier without ads. The paid tier costs around $6 per month with ads or $12 per month without ads, though prices vary and Peacock sometimes offers discounts. Not all NBC programming is on Peacock, so this is a partial solution.

You can also check whether other streaming TV services in your area carry your local NBC station. Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV's main competitor, carries local stations in many markets. If Hulu + Live TV carries your local NBC station and YouTube TV does not, that might be a reason to switch, depending on what other channels matter to you.

NBC sports and special events on YouTube TV

Sunday Night Football airs on NBC and is available to YouTube TV subscribers. Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on NBC in rotation with other networks, and YouTube TV carries them. Olympic Games coverage airs on NBC during Olympic years, and YouTube TV carries that as well. The availability of these events does not depend on whether you have your local NBC station — they come through the national NBC feed.

Some sports programming that airs on NBC's cable networks — like CNBC, MSNBC, or the Golf Channel — may or may not be included in your YouTube TV package depending on your subscription tier. YouTube TV offers a base package and an optional Sports Plus add-on. Check your channel list to see which sports networks you have.

How YouTube TV's NBC coverage compares to other services

Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV's closest competitor, also carries the national NBC feed and local NBC stations in many markets. The local station availability is similar between the two services — both cover major markets well and have gaps in smaller markets. Hulu + Live TV costs around $77 per month for the base package, while YouTube TV costs around $73 per month. Both prices change periodically.

Sling TV, a cheaper option at around $40 per month, carries the national NBC feed but does not carry local stations. If you need local NBC, Sling TV is not a good fit. Fubo, another streaming TV service, carries NBC and local stations in many markets and costs around $80 per month. The choice between these services depends on what other channels you watch and what local stations matter to you.

What happens if YouTube TV loses NBC

Carriage disputes between YouTube TV and NBC's parent company, Comcast, have happened before. In 2022, YouTube TV and Comcast had a brief dispute that briefly removed NBC channels from the service. The channels were restored after a few days. These disputes are rare but do occur when contracts are being renegotiated.

If a dispute happens and NBC is removed from YouTube TV, you would lose access to NBC programming until the dispute is resolved. YouTube TV typically notifies subscribers before a channel is removed and sometimes offers a credit if the outage lasts more than a few days. You can check YouTube TV's support page or your account notifications to see if any channels are at risk of removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch NBC shows on demand if I have YouTube TV?

Yes. YouTube TV includes a cloud DVR that records NBC programming automatically, and you can watch those recordings on demand for up to nine months. You can also watch some NBC shows on demand through the NBC app if you sign in with your YouTube TV credentials.

Does YouTube TV include MSNBC or CNBC?

MSNBC and CNBC are included in most YouTube TV packages, but you should check your local channel lineup to confirm. These are cable networks owned by Comcast, the same parent company as NBC, and they are usually bundled with the base package.

What if I want to watch NBC but YouTube TV is too expensive?

Sling TV carries the national NBC feed for around $40 per month but does not include local stations. Peacock carries some NBC content for around $6 to $12 per month. The NBC app is free with ads if you authenticate with a cable or streaming TV subscription. Your best option depends on whether you need local NBC or just national programming.

Can I use a VPN to watch NBC if it is not available in my area?

YouTube TV's terms of service prohibit using a VPN to access content outside your home region. If you use a VPN, YouTube TV may suspend your account. This is not a reliable workaround.

Does YouTube TV's Sports Plus add-on include more NBC sports?

Sports Plus adds channels like NFL RedZone, MLB Extra Innings, and others, but it does not add NBC programming. Sunday Night Football and other NBC sports are included in the base YouTube TV package. Sports Plus costs around $15 per month and is useful only if you want the extra sports networks it includes.