The streaming landscape has hit yet another snag with a new feud between NBCUniversal and Fubo hitting at a particularly awful time for sports fans and TV viewers alike. Unfortunately for Fubo subscribers, this means that all NBC channels — including your local NBC news affiliates, USA Network, MSNBC and more — are no longer available on the service until the two companies reach a deal.
The easiest way you can watch college and NFL football, NBA games and more streaming free is with DIRECTV (free trial), or on the cheap with Peacock (just $10.99/month).
Why is there no NBC on Fubo right now?
Fubo has put out a lengthy Q&A and more information on their support page for current subscribers frustrated by the NBC blackout. On Friday evening, just before the weekend, NBCUniversal channels were quietly removed from Fubo as an agreement to renew their carriage deal could not be renewed by the deadline. Instead of an extension while negotiations continue, the channels were simply went dark.
What NBC channels are missing from Fubo? What is going on?
During this carriage fee dispute between Fubo and NBCUniversal, several channels have been removed from the service as the blackout extends to NBC, NBC Sports regional networks, MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, The Golf Channel, Bravo, E!, Syfy, Telemundo and many more channels you can see in the complete list. While Fubo states that they are working to get the channels back as soon as possible, an NBCUniversal spokesperson told Cord Cutters News that “Fubo has chosen to drop NBCUniversal programming despite being offered the same terms agreed to by hundreds of other distributors.”
So, when will the blackout end? The short answer is: there’s no end to the sight to this feud. This NBC blackout is especially hard if you are a NBA fan, a Premier League soccer fan or even a NFL and college football fan. This carriage fee dispute is a significant roadblock to Fubo subscribers who signed up for that service specifically to get as many live sports channels as possible, especially in markets like greater California, Boston and Philadelphia.
Where can I watch NBC channels for free, or streaming on the cheap?
Until this feud is resolved, here are what we feel are the best options for Fubo subscribers wanting to watch NBCUniversal channels, which we have ranked for you in terms of both price and functionality.
No. 1 —Buy an HDTV antenna (costs roughly $20)
If you only need access to NBC to watch sports events like Sunday Night Football, your local NBC news channels and some top Premier League soccer matches, you can just buy an HDTV antenna, hook it up to your TV and be set to go with no further monthly streaming fees. However, with this option, you wouldn’t be able to watch on your phone or tablet if that’s important to you. You also would not be able to get access to Premier League games broadcast on USA Network, or TV shows and programming on E!, Bravo, The Golf Channel and others. A cheap and well-rated HDTV antenna costs around $20 and ships quickly from Walmart, or you can get one from Amazon.
No. 2 —Peacock Premium (promotional offers, cheapest overall streaming plans that start at $10.99/month which include live sports and more)
It doesn’t have a free trial period, but Peacock is our No. 1 option because it is the cheapest way for Fubo subscribers to access NBC channels until the dispute between these companies is resolved. The cheapest plan that includes live sports events is $10.99/month. Because Black Friday is this week, you can also get Peacock for free for an entire year when you sign up for a Walmart+ annual plan before Friday, Nov. 28 at half the usual rate (costs just $49/year instead of the usual $99/year).
No. 3 —DIRECTV (free trial, then $100/month total cost when you add the $15/month additional “Sports Pack” to get NFL RedZone)
DIRECTV is slightly more expensive than Fubo, depending on your location or the plan you choose, but it does have a free trial. You can give this a go if you want to try it out this week and decide if you want to cancel Fubo and switch to DIRECTV, Sling or another service before you commit long term.
With NBC channels removed from Fubo, here are a few options for affected subscribers
